Disclaimer: I own no part of Love Hina, but Sean is me.

After taking so long on the last chapter, this one must be a breath of fresh air.

Chapter L: An Aoyama By Any Other Name

Saturday 8/23 6:36 AM

After returning from Myrtle Beach, Sean and Motoko resumed their weekly training regimen. To the casual observer, it would look like Motoko was as strong as she ever was, but Sean knew her long enough (and been the target of enough of her attacks) to see that she wasn't at the top of her game. After their latest sparring session came to a close (in an all-too-rare stalemate), they took a seat to get their strength back before leaving the video game dimension. It was at this time that Sean decided to get to the root of Motoko's problem--as if he hadn't already figured out what it was. "You really miss Jimmy, don't you?" he asked out of the blue.

Motoko looked at Sean in surprise. After the first week or so since returning home, it had appeared that she had gotten over the fact that she and her newly found love were so far away, but in reality, she felt like she was being torn apart from the inside out. Sure, staying in contact via phone calls and e-mail helped somewhat, but she yearned to speak to Jimmy face to face. "What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to put up a strong front.

"You can drop the act, Motoko," Sean said. "You can't fool me."

"How could you tell?" With her experience in keeping her emotions covered up, she thought her performance was flawless.

"Ever since we got back from Myrtle Beach, I've noticed your skills have been slowly deteriorating. You've been losing your focus, and I can think of only one reason as to why."

Upon hearing this, Motoko knew her cover had just been blown, but she couldn't believe that out of everything that could have exposed her ruse, it had to be the thing she held closet to her heart; even closer than Jimmy. "Was it really that obvious?" she asked, refusing to make eye contact.

"You're not the only one who's had to spend time away from a loved one," Sean said. "Shinobu and I have had to go through that more times than I'd like."

"But you know you and Shinobu will be back together before too long," Tears started to well up in Motoko's eyes. "I can't be sure if I'll ever see Jimmy again."

Sean didn't know exactly how to respond to that, as he was skeptical about seeing his friend as well. He had no plans to visit his old hometown again any time soon, and according to the conversations Motoko has had with him, Jimmy was the same way concerning them. "Um, at least you two are still keeping contact. That must count for something."

"It's just not the same. I want to see him in person; I want to hold him in my arms; I want to fight him." If Motoko wasn't the swordswoman she was, that last part would have sounded really weird. "I'm not saying you're not a bad sparring partner or anything, it's just--"

"Don't worry about it," Sean interrupted. "I understand." He stood up, stretching a bit in the process. "Well, I'm out. You coming?"

Motoko shook her head. "I'd like to stay here a while longer."

Sean nodded. "I'll see you at breakfast, then."

"Wait, could I ask you something before I go?"

"Sure, anything to help."

"Would you please not tell anyone about this? I don't want to make them worry about me or anything."

"No problem." With that, Sean vanished, leaving Motoko alone with her thoughts. She didn't have to worry about finding a way out, since Sean recently installed a permanent portal to the outside world. Motoko had requested this addition in order to do some of her training and meditation in private, away from prying eyes. This was one of those private moments, but it had nothing to do with training.

Right then and there, she let her tears blaze a trail down her face. "I don't know how long I can wait," she cried. Memories of Motoko's and Jimmy's last few moments together played in a continuous loop in her mind. She could almost feel Jimmy's arms around her, but she had to face facts; Jimmy was half a world away, and she might never see him again… but she couldn't lose hope. Even if it left her a complete wreck, she would wait for that wonderful moment when Jimmy would come back into her life in a way that phone calls and e-mails could never do.

"I have to think of something I can do to help her," Sean thought as he exited Motoko's room. "I mean, there's no telling how much longer she can keep up that act. Hell, she could crack today for all I know. Hmm, maybe I could take her over to Jimmy's every so often. I'll run that idea by both of them when I get a chance."

With that mess out of the way for the moment, Sean went into his daily routine, which included making breakfast with Shinobu. Naturally, the first step in doing that would be to check if his girlfriend was even awake. Making his way to her room, he quietly opened the door to find her still fast asleep. "She looks so peaceful when she's asleep," he thought. "Of course, she's usually peaceful at any other time of day as well. It's when she's upset that you have to look out." That brought up the memory of Shinobu's reaction too finding Mutsumi in his bed; he shuddered at the thought. "I hope I never see her like that ever again."

Deciding to let her sleep a while longer, he started to close the door, but froze when he heard something from inside. He instantly recognized it as Shinobu's voice, but from this distance, he couldn't understand what she was saying. Against his better judgment, Sean entered the room and crept up close to Shinobu so he could listen in on whatever dream she was having.

"I love you so much, Sean," Shinobu muttered.

"I should have known she'd be dreaming about me," Sean thought.

"I've been having a great time today. Thank you," Shinobu said, a giddy smile on her face.

"I wonder what the occasion is," Sean thought. A sly grin appeared on his face. "Should I? Aw, why not?" Sean leaned down and gave Shinobu a peck on the cheek, making her face start to turn pink.

"Sean," Shinobu giggled. "What are you doing? We can't do that here."

"Hello," Sean thought, a look of mild surprise on his face. This little development only made him want to know what was going on all the more.

"But what if we get caught?" By now, Shinobu's face was bright red and she had a tight grip on her bed sheets. "I don't even want to think about what the others would do if they found out about this."

"Okay," Sean thought. By now, he had a pretty good idea as to what was happening in Shinobu's mind. "Time to end this before it… I go too far." He put his mouth close to Shinobu's ear. "Shinobu," he whispered in a sing-song voice. "Shinobu…"

The blue-haired girl stirred a bit and slowly opened her eyes. She gasped as soon as she saw who was in the room with her.

"And a good morning to you, too," Sean said. "Did you know that you talk in your sleep?"

Shinobu's eyes grew wide and her face turned a deep red. "You mean you--"

"Let's put it this way," Sean interrupted. "I have a good idea as to what we were doing, but I'd still like to know where we were doing it."

As Shinobu sat up, it was obvious that she was reluctant to respond. "Um, well, we had spent the whole day in the park and…"

"And I wasn't quite ready to go home yet, right?"

"Uh, right."

"Don't worry," Sean said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Dreams are nothing to be ashamed about. Besides, seeing you all bashful like this reminds me of when we first met, and we both know that's not a bad thing."

"Yeah," Shinobu said, smiling for the first time since she woke up, but it wasn't her usual cheerful one. "Plus, it's not like I'm the only one having adult dreams, right?"

Sean laughed nervously at Shinobu's accusing tone. "Uh, right. I'm going to go start making breakfast, 'kay?"

"Alright. I'll be right down after I get dressed." She watched Sean leave the room, closing the door behind him. "He's such a character," she said to herself as she got up and headed for her closet. Unbeknownst to Sean, she had actually been awake the entire time he was there.

--- 7:12 AM

Motoko was the first to reach the dining room for breakfast that morning. She had long since regained her composure and resumed her act of impassiveness. "Good morning, Motoko," Shinobu said as she set the table. "Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."

"Alright," Motoko said, taking her usual seat. She watched Shinobu head back into the kitchen. Shortly thereafter, Sean came out; Motoko noticed that he was looking back towards the kitchen a couple times as he made he way to her.

"Are you feeling any better?" Sean whispered, making sure Shinobu couldn't hear.

"A little," Motoko whispered back. "I just needed to let out my frustrations without anyone knowing something's wrong."

"You know you can't keep it up forever. One of the others are bound to find out sooner or later."

"And I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," Motoko simply said. It was at this time that the others start to filter in, so they quickly ended their conversation.

"Ah," Kitsune said, taking a big whiff. "Breakfast smells delicious as always."

"You two certainly make a great team," Keitaro said.

"Actually, Shinobu's the one with all the talent," Sean said. "I'm just good at following directions."

"Oh, come on," Shinobu said, bringing in a couple trays a food. "That pizza you made last week was great! You didn't need my help with that."

"That's because it came out of a box," Naru said.

"Uh, thank you for proving my point," Sean said, amid everyone's laughter.

"Dig in, everyone!" Shinobu said. They were about to do just that when they heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Sean said, getting up. "Go ahead and start without me."

"Who would come at this time in the morning?" Kitsune asked.

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," Naru said. Everyone heard a couple voices coming from the front door, but they were so faint, they couldn't figure out what was going on. Moments later, Sean reappeared in the dining room.

"Hey, Motoko," he said. "There's someone here to see you; someone you know pretty well."

In an instant, Motoko's face lit up. "Could it be?" she thought, thinking a miracle had just happened. She started to get up, but Sean stopped her.

"Don't bother getting up," Sean said.

With some reluctance, Motoko sat back down; it took a moment for what Sean said to fully register, making her happy expression turn to one of confusion. "Did he say 'her'?" she thought. "So it's not Jimmy after all. But if it's not him, but who--" The thought stopped short when the visitor entered the room. "No, it can't be." But it was.

"Hello, Motoko," the woman said, a pleasant smile on her face.

"Hello…" Motoko replied, an unreadable expression on hers; not from lack of emotion, but the other way around. "…sister."

"Everyone, this is… Tsuruko, correct?" The older Aoyama sibling nodded. "We were just about to have breakfast. Care to join us?"

"Yes, thank you," Tsuruko said, sitting between Sean and Motoko.

"So, you're Motoko's sister, huh?" Kitsune said. "Now I see where she gets her good looks from."

While Tsuruko chuckled a but at the comment, Motoko felt like she was being put through the wringer. "So, sister," Motoko said, a hint of fear in her voice. "What brings you here?"

"I think you know exactly why I'm here," Tsuruko said.

"Um, even though this looks like a family matter and we probably shouldn't get involved," Keitaro said. "But could you fill us in?"

"As part of the head family in the God's Cry School," Motoko said. "It is my birthright to eventually become master."

"That is correct," Tsuruko said. "And I have come to take you home to do that very thing."

"Are you serious?" Sean asked.

"She's always serious," Motoko asked. "But why now? I'm not ready to take over yet. There are still thing I have yet to do."

"That is of no consequence," Tsuruko said. "Well, let's go."

"Wait, hold on," Sean quickly said as Tsuruko grabbed Motoko's arm and started to get up. "You're going to take her away NOW?!"

"Yeah," Kitsune said. "You should at least let her finish breakfast first."

"I do not wish to leave," Motoko said as she was dragged out of the room. "I enjoy the time I spend with my friends."

"Your friends can still visit you," Tsuruko said, her voice never wavering.

"SISTER!!" Motoko screamed. "PLEASE RECONSIDER!!"

"There must be some way you can let her stay here," Naru said.

"Only one," Tsuruko said, still keeping a vice-like grip on Motoko's arm. "She must be wed."

"I see," Sean said. "Motoko, I'm disappointed in you."

"WHAT?!" Motoko had no idea what Sean was saying.

"To think, we've been engaged for almost three months now and you didn't even tell your own sister."

"What are you talking about?" Suu asked. "You're not--" Sean quickly placed a hand over her mouth.

"Shut it," Sean said in a hushed tone.

"Is this true?" Tsuruko asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh…" Motoko muttered, managing a weak smile. "Surprise."

"Well, that's another story, then," Tsuruko said, letting go of Motoko. "Congratulations."

In an instant, Motoko was back at the dinner table, wrapping her arms around Sean's. "Um, could you excuse us for a minute?" she asked.

"Of course," Tsuruko said.

Motoko waited for her elder to leave the room before saying anything more. "What are you doing?!" she asked Sean, releasing him from her grip.

"Yeah," Shinobu said. "Why would you say you and Motoko are engaged?"

"Listen," Sean said. "You don't want to leave, right?"

"You know I don't," Motoko said.

"Well, we don't want you to leave either, and if that means resorting to deception, then so be it."

For Motoko, it took a few moments for what Sean said to fully sink in. Suddenly, he wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you so much!"

"We're behind you all the way!" Kitsune said.

"Anything for a friend," Sean said, turning towards the others. "Alright, we only have to keep this whole engagement thing going until Motoko's sister leaves. Are you all up to it?"

"Yeah," Kitsune said. "We're behind you all the way."

"I'm not so sure about this," Shinobu muttered.

"Don't worry," Sean said. "When all this is said and done, if we play our cards right, everything will go back to normal."

"But what if something goes wrong?"

"Somehow, I think we all know what'll happen if we botch this," Kitsune said.

"All the more reason not to screw this up," Naru said.

"I'm glad I'm not in his place," Keitaro thought.

"Let's go chat with the in-law before she starts to suspect something," Sean said.

"Actually," Motoko said. "I don't think I'm up to facing my sister right now."

"Why? Afraid she'd kick your ass if she found out we're lying?" Kitsune asked jokingly.

"Exactly," Motoko said, much to Kitsune's surprise. "Tsuruko's the best fighter the God's Cry School has had in generations. I'm no match for her." She glanced at Sean. "Especially now," she thought.

"Okay," Sean said after a moment of thought. "I've got an idea. It's not a permanent solution, but it'll buy me and Motoko some time to figure this whole thing out."

"You can count on us for help," Naru said.

"We're going to need it," Motoko muttered.

After Sean explained his plan (which was very straightforward), they all sprang into action, Sean and Motoko going one way, everyone else going the other to deal with Tsuruko, who was seated on the couch in the living room. Everyone was on edge, nobody knowing what to say to get a conversation going.

"So," Kitsune finally said. "What have you been up to lately?"

"Not much," Tsuruko said. "Just living a comfortable life with my husband."

"Ah, you're married," Naru said. "That explains why you came for Motoko to take charge of the school; you couldn't do it yourself."

"On that note, where is the happy couple?"

"Out in the hot spring," Shinobu said. "They had a training session earlier this morning and haven't had a chance to get cleaned up until now."

"So they bathe together, do they? What else have they done with each other?"

"Aw, you know," Kitsune said. "Those thing couples do in their free time." The Hinata Crew was relieved that they didn't have to lie quite as much as they at first thought, though they feared that using mere technicalities would come back to bite them.

"How has my sister's training been as of late? Has she been improving?"

"We can't say for sure," Keitaro said. "They always train off in some secret location, so we haven't seen her in action for a while."

"I see," Tsuruko said. "He wishes to remove all distraction from her training. I can see that he will make a fine husband for my dear sister."

Hearing those words made Shunobu's eye start to twitch but fortunately, Tsuruko wasn't looking in her direction, so it went unnoticed. "I don't know if I can take much more of this," she thought. "Please leave soon." She snapped out of her doldrums when Tsuruko got up off the couch. "Where are you going?"

"The hot spring," Tsuruko said. "I'd like to speak to Motoko myself."

That threw up a red flag in the mind of everyone else. "Um, I don't think that's a good idea," Kitsune said.

"And why not?"

"They don't like to be interrupted when they're bathing," Naru said.

"Yeah," Shinobu said. "If anyone should happen to walk in on them…" She shuddered, showing Tsuruko that it wouldn't be a very favorable situation.

"I thought you said you haven't seen Motoko in combat," Tsuruko said, raising an eyebrow.

"Who said we were talking about Motoko?" Keitaro quickly said.

"Yeah, Sean got skills!" Suu cheered. Again, a technicality.

"I can take care of myself," Tsuruko simply said.

"Oh man," Motoko said as her towel-clad body came to a rest in the water. "What a mess this is."

"You said it," Sean said; he was already seated.

"I never expected my sister to show up so soon."

Sean looked at his "fiancée" in surprise. "You knew she was coming all along?"

"I knew the time would arrive when she would come for me; I just didn't think it would be so soon." Motoko kissed Sean on the cheek. "Thanks again for helping me get through this. I'm really not ready to take over the dojo yet."

"No sweat," Sean said. "I'd hate to see you taken somewhere against your will."

"I just wonder how Shinobu's handling this."

"She'll be fine; at least as long as your sister doesn't force us to consummate our engagement or something."

"She wouldn't do something like that. I'm more worried about what she'd do if she discovered our ruse."

"Tsuruko seems like a pretty sensible woman," Sean said. "I'm sure she'd understand if she found out we weren't even boyfriend and girlfriend, much less engaged."

"Is that right?"

A look of shock appeared on both Motoko's and Sean's faces as they saw Tsuruko in the doorway. "Do you want to test that theory of yours?" Motoko asked,

"You gotta be kidding me," Sean muttered, putting two fingers to his forehead. "From all the bad timing I've had to put up with in my lifetime, you'd think I was living in a damn sit-com or something."

"Sorry, Sean," Kitsune said from behind Tsuruko. "We couldn't stop her."

"You did your best, I'm sure," Sean said. "That's all we can ask."

"You've been lying to me this whole time, Motoko?" Tsuruko asked. The friendly smile had long since vanished from her face.

"Y-Yes, Tsuruko," Motoko said timidly.

"I must say, I have some respect for your friends. They must care for you deeply to commit such a charade just to get me to let you stay here. Regardless, such disobedience cannot go unpunished." She emphasized her point by unsheathing her sword.

"Uh oh," Motoko thought. "Getting my sister angry is never a good thing." She was barely able to get out of the way of an energy blast coming her way. "I do not wish to fight you, sister!"

"I do not recall calling it as such."

Motoko dodged another blast, grabbing her sword in the process. "Well, I am," she said, brandishing her own weapon.

Tsuruko laughed menacingly. "If that's what you want. Give me your best shot."

"C'mon, Motoko!" Sean cheered. "You can do it!"

Motoko charged her opponent, but her attack was blocked easily and effortlessly. "You expect to impress me with that?" Tsuruko asked.

"Even if you are my older sister," Motoko said as she backed off. "I refuse to let you boss me around. I will live my life the way I want to live it. I intend to become the master of the God's Cry School, but only when I'm good and ready!"

"Nice words," Tsuruko said. "But do you have what it takes to back them up?"

"Let's find out. ROCK SPLITTING SWORD!!" Motoko sent a wave of ki at her sister, but she batted it away as though she was swatting a fly.

"Is that all you got?" Tsuruko asked. "You are pitiful." Once again, Motoko charged, but this time, her strike only hit air. "You lack focus. There's no way you can win."

Motoko turned around to find Tsuruko charging at her. She raised her blade to block, but the energy strike cleaved it in half, allowing the attack to make contact with flesh, sending Motoko flying backwards. "I gotcha!" Kitsune said, catching her before she hit the wall.

"You have disgraced yourself with your lies and your abysmal attempt at defeating me," Tsuruko said, sheathing her sword. "I hope you enjoy your new life, because for you, the path along the way of the sword ends right here, right now." Without another word, she walked towards the door, where the others quickly moved out of her way.

"Hey, hold on!" Sean yelled, running inside after her.

"Motoko…" Keitaro said as he watched Kitsune lay her down on the ground. In an instant, Shinobu was at her side, checking to see just how bad she was hurt by the attack dealt to her.

"Thank goodness," Shinobu said after a few seconds. "It's only a flesh wound. Everything's going to be fine."

"No," Motoko whispered. "You're wrong." She glanced at her now broken sword as flood of tears made their way down her cheeks. "My… My life is… over."

End of Chapter L

How long did it take to figure out the plot of this one? It's certainly been a while since my last cliffhanger, hasn't it? See you next time--I'm sure you all know what'll happen then.