Alright. Who wants to know just what the heck is going on with regards to Keitaro, Kanako and Motoko, especially? This chapter answers a lot of your questions. Enjoy!
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LOVE HINA: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
By Doctor-T
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The first thing that Motoko noticed upon entering the room was that, apart from her older sister Tsuruko, there were no other members of the Aoyama clan presently there, senior or otherwise. So, after all of the polite introductions had been done, and the three had sat down on the chairs provided to face the seated senior family members and representatives, Motoko turned to her sister, and asked the question that was foremost in her mind.
"Oneesan, excuse me. Where are our Father and the other council Representatives?"
"You may answer any and all of Motoko-san's questions, Tsuruko Aoyama-san," Granny Hina stated from her seat in the center of the assembly, in reply to the questioning look that Tsuruko gave her. "Please take all of the time that you require to tell her what you need to, right now."
"Thank you, Hinata Obā-sama," Tsuruko replied, and then turned back to face her puzzled younger sister. "Motoko-chan, in reply to your question regarding the absence of our representatives, there has been an – incursion – in Kyoto, of such magnitude and severity, that it requires our entire clan to deal with. "
"An incursion? You mean – an attack?! Of what sort?"
"Demonic. But we here have been assured that everything, so far, is under control. As of yet, we two are not required to help, so that is why I – and you - are still here."
"Oh? Yes, Oneesan."
"For that reason, our Father and all of the other representatives were unable to make this meeting tonight. However, I have been given full authority to speak for, and make decisions on behalf of our clan in their absence. To that end, I was faxed written instructions for me to follow, one for which concerns you, Motoko-chan."
"Me?"
"Yes. This instruction concerns your dual relationship with Keitaro Urashima-san and Kaolla Su-san."
Motoko paled, and then her cheeks reddened as she heard her sister's statement – especially since her liaison with both Keitaro and Su had now been outed in public.
"What?! M-my relationship with Urashima and Su? Are you saying that our family disapproves of my actions, and that I have to cease my, um? - activities with them?"
"No, not at all," Tsuruko reassured her worried sibling. "You may continue to date the two of them. However, you may not marry either of them, or both, until certain requirements from you, and them, are met."
"What?! Certain requirements? Bu-but I thought that you had given us your blessing, Oneesan?" Motoko weakly protested, her alarm outweighing her embarrassment at what her older sister was saying in front of the other attendees. "You told me that you approved of them both!"
"I did," Tsuruko assured her shocked younger sister. "And I still do. But I was speaking then only as myself, not as the representative of our clan. As you well know, Motoko-chan, I am not the head of our family. This directive comes straight from our father. His orders for you are this. You are forbidden to marry until you have graduated Toudai, by order of not only him and our mother, but this was also the unanimous decree from our Council of Elders."
"Oh? I – I see?" Motoko answered, trying hard to hide her frustration and disappointment from her sister. "Then...I have no choice but to do as they say, and first get into, and then graduate from Toudai...! Yes. I will study hard and achieve this."
"Good. So you fully understand what you have to do before you can marry, Motoko-chan? Do you have any further questions for me?"
"Y-yes, I do understand, Tsuruko-Oneesan... And no, I do not."
"Is that all you need to say to your imouto, Tsuruko Aoyama-san?" Granny then asked.
"Yes, it is, Hinata Obā-sama."
"Then let this meeting come to order."
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Granny Hina then stood up from her chair, and addressed the gathering.
"Thank you for all appearing here tonight for this meeting, some of you on very short, or no notice," the matriarch said. "However, because of the aforementioned and unavoidable absence of several key representatives of our assembly, our first meeting tonight will only be for important matters concerning the immediate families of those now present."
"Tsuruko-san has already spoken to Motoko-san about what she now must achieve in order to attain her desired objective. And now, Amalla Su, Princess of the Country of Molmol, has a message for her sister, Crown Princess Kaolla Su."
'Crown Princess Kaolla Su?!' Keitaro and Kanako silently burst out in wide-eyed astonishment, both siblings' minds thinking exactly alike, for a change. And they weren't the only ones in the room with expressions of disbelief on their faces, either. But to the open-mouthed young ronin's left, the still-stunned Motoko wasn't looking surprised at what she had just heard at all, since she already knew that her girlfriend was secretly a Princess.
So Su must have already told Motoko that she is a Princess? Keitaro realized as he quickly scrutinized Motoko's impassive face. She must have been keeping it a secret from everyone else who didn't absolutely need to know.
And Vincent S-san doesn't seem to be surprised, either...
"Amalla Su-hime, you may now speak," Granny Hina continued, causing Keitaro to halt his surreptitious scrutiny of the other participants and focus his gaze on his grandmother again. "Please tell Kaolla Su-hime everything that we know, including on the topic of her research."
"Thank you, Hinata Obā-sama. But could you please continue to address us both with only the honorific '-san'? We prefer that our royal status remain confidential to those outside of this closed meeting, for now, anyway."
"Very well," Granny agreed. "It shall be done. You have my apologies."
"Thank you once again for your understanding, Hinata Obā-sama."
Then Amalla turned her head to face her expectant-looking sister. She smiled, knowing that the news she had to pass on would be sure to please her much younger sibling, and then spoke up.
"Su, I have an important message for you from our father – one that you will no-doubt be overjoyed to hear. Since you have now almost reached the age of sixteen, the King has rescinded his earlier order for you to return to Molmol, and cancelled your previously-arranged marriage. He now decrees that you, Kaolla Su, the Crown Princess of Molmol, is now free to choose her own marriage partner, or partners, within reason, of course."
"He has?" Su leapt up from her seat with joy. "Oh, yaaaay!"
"However," Amalla emphasized, "The person, or persons that you pick to marry still have to meet certain strict standards, physically, mentally, and socially. And aforesaid person or persons must also meet with the King and Queen's approval, as well. You may now pick who it is you wish to marry, but they still have the right to veto any candidates who are obviously unsuitable for the position, after all."
That declaration stopped Su's dancing around in a hurry.
"Wh-what?!"
"For example, no-one can become the King of Molmol, or even marry into the Royal Family unless that have completed a University Education and have graduated with at least one full university level degree," Amalla elaborated, a grave expression now on her strikingly-beautiful, light-brown face. "It is preferable that the Crown Princess of Molmol also have a university degree as well before she assumes the title of queen, although it is not a formal requirement." Then she smiled at her younger sister, and added, "Of course, we both know that you can achieve that either awake, or in your sleep."
The now somewhat-mollified Su beamed at the compliment, and replied, with a thumbs-up, and a loud, "You betcha!"
"Yes. We all know that you will. And now on to another matter of importance that concerns both you and Keitaro-san there."
Who, me? Keitaro apprehensively thought, sitting up straight in his chair as he heard his name being mentioned again, his eyes widening behind his glasses. Now what?
"We know that you also now know just what Keitaro-san is, Su. You've been poking and prodding at Keitaro-san ever since he first arrived here. Those tests and experiments that you have previously done to him have revealed his true potential to you, haven't they?"
Tests and experiments! The increasingly-more-worried-looking-by-the-second ronin silently repeated. Has Su been secretly experimenting on me? But, why?
"Yup," Su answered. Despite her own considerable social rank, she was now fidgeting somewhat at being under the intense scrutiny of so many other important people. "I know about good old Keitaro's fast healing factor, and also about his probable immortality, all right. That's part of the reason that I wanna marry him, ya know – well, that and the fact that I love him, too!"
So that's why I woke up that time with my balls on a scale and Su measuring my manhood with a caliper, the red-faced, more-than-slightly-embarrassed Keitaro silently realized. She's been conducting medical tests on me while I've been sleeping! And now I know for a fact that I wasn't dreaming it all up - it really did happen to me!
Still, Su admitting to that, still doesn't explain that weird light, the oval-headed shapes, and the anal probe that I can definitely remember getting on one occasion...!
And what 'probable immortality'?!
"I have also found out that Kei-Baby has enough get-go in him to repopulate all of Japan, and most of China, as well," Su proudly declared in a quite-unnecessarily-loud tone of voice. "He's a human fertility bank! That's the other reason I want him – he's capable of doing the deed all night and all day if he wants to – and I sure do want him to do just that with me!"
Aaargh! Suuu! Keitaro silently yelled, cringing down in his seat, his face flaming into red. Don't say things like that about me in public!
"Of course, the fact that he hadn't got any sex action at all, up until only a month-or-so ago, also probably has a bit to do with it," Su thoughtfully continued, with absolutely no shame, to the now-crimson Keitaro's chagrin. "Twenty-one years of only 'stroke mags' and tissues has gotta build up a lot of pressure behind the old cooker for the real thing. But once me and Motoko and Kitsune and Mutsumi unblocked the dam, so to speak, he's in now in full flood. Yay!"
That last bit did it for increasingly-more-embarrassed-by-the-second young man.
"Hey!" the bright-red Keitaro yelled out, jumping up onto his feet, the mortified young manager more than conscious that everyone else present was not only eyeing him up speculatively, but were also fighting hard to suppress their laughter. Everyone but Motoko, that is, who was sporting a steaming, crimson-red face that matched his one. And also Kanako, seated to his right, whose look of outrage at what she was hearing was growing by the second. "Haven't you guys got anything better to do than to discuss in public my previous lack of a sex life?!"
"Actually, Keitaro, no, we haven't," Granny declared with a laugh to her toffee-apple colored grandson. "This seed-producing ability of yours may be an important part of our future plans."
"Huh?" Seed producing ability?! "Wh-what future plans?"
"We will get to that in due course. Not tonight, but during the series of future meetings I will be scheduling here at the apartments."
"What?" the goggle-eyed ronin squawked in disbelief. "You're going to keep on embarrassing me every time you have a meeting?!"
"Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that." The ancient lady then laughed, and added, "But keep practicing, Keitaro. From what I hear, it appears that you have no shortage of willing partners to help keep your tap turned on for you."
Waah! Whatever did I do to deserve this?!
"And now, on to the second item on our agenda." Granny then switched her mirth-filled gaze to her frowning, teeth-gritting granddaughter.
"Kanako-chan, it is time for me to reveal to you a bit more about yourself. I already know that you have recently discovered certain facts about your origin. I will now tell you more on that subject, and explain to you, your true purpose and destiny in our family."
Kanako, upon hearing her name called out, quickly calmed down from what she had heard about the experiments on her Oniichan. She was now sitting quiet and still, although her eyes were wide with anticipation.
"Yes, Grandma Hina-sama. I am ready," the Goth girl stated, having already guessed as to what was about to be revealed. And she was just as interested as anyone else present, in finding out more about herself from the head of their family.
I have been waiting a long time for this, she thought, almost shivering with anticipation at what she was about to discover. Finally, the truth about me is about to be revealed for all to hear!
Now that the heat was at long-last off him, and everyone's attention had switched to his sister, Keitaro had managed to somewhat compose himself. But the fact that, of all people, Tsuruko Aoyama, for some inexplicable reason was now smiling at Kanako, and seemed to be wiping away a sudden tear in her right eye, made him suddenly feel uneasy again.
She obviously had either previously known about, or had only just found out about what his grandmother was going to say to Kanako.
"Now listen carefully, Kanako-chan, for this story also pertains to the Hinata Blade, which, as you already know, is in our possession."
"Yes Grandma."
"Very few people know the following fact. The Hinata blade can only be wielded in complete safety by a chosen girl who is of both of the following bloodlines – the Aoyama clan and the Urashima clan," Granny explained, a serious look now on her face. "It is this girl who is fated to join the two clans back into one again. I can wield it, and actually have done so, on occasion. And only two others have the potential to do so, both of whom are here in this room. One of whom is my adopted granddaughter."
Upon hearing that revelation, the dumbfounded Keitaro couldn't hold himself back any longer from speaking up.
"Adopted granddaughter? Um, excuse me, Grandma..!"
"Yes, Keitaro? You may speak. It is important that all participants in this meeting fully understand the ramifications of what I am saying, so questions are welcome."
"Ah! Thank you. So...you're saying that my sister, Kanako, is one of the only two girls, apart from you, who can safely use the Hinata blade without being possessed by the demon within it?"
"Yes."
"But she's not an Aoyama!"
"And what makes you so sure that she isn't, Keitaro?"
"What?! Kanako was adopted by my parents from the Aoyama clan?"
"Yes."
"Holy shit! Um, sorry, everybody..! That was, um, rude of me. It's just that this is...well, so hard to believe...!"
"I can confirm that Kanako-san is indeed an Aoyama of our family line," Tsuruko then interjected, a big smile on her face. "I, myself, had no idea of this fact at all, before tonight. But I received confirmation from my father in the fax that I was sent from him, earlier on this very evening. So, as well as Motoko-chan, Kanako-san is also my imouto."
She then turned to face Kanako, and then said in a warm and friendly voice, "Welcome to the Aoyama family, Kanako-chan!"
The Kyoto woman was in fact doubly-happy on this auspicious occasion. For her, Haruka and Granny had also been told just before the meeting, by Chinen-sensei, that Kanako was now fully-cured of her previously-fatal condition. And, thanks to him, she also now knew just who had done it, too – Hotaru Tomoe, in her guise of Sailor Saturn.
As she heard the warm welcome, for once Kanako actually managed a genuine smile.
"Thank you, Tsuruko-san. It is my pleasure."
She then turned her face back to her brother. "What Grandma and Tsuruko-san have just told us is true, Oniichan," Kanako told him. "I already knew this to be a fact before this meeting tonight."
"You did? But why didn't you tell me of this before?"
"I had my reasons. I am sorry, Oniichan. I did intend to tell you, and one other, but events have conspired against me doing so before this meeting was held. And there's more that I need to tell you. May I do so now, Grandma?"
"Yes, you may speak of what you know. To both of them."
"Both of them?" her brother repeated, looking more puzzled by the second at what he was hearing.
"Yes, Oniichan. What I am about to say concerns Motoko-san, as well."
"Me?" Motoko gasped out, the Kendo girl still trying to process in her mind just what she had already heard in the proceeding few minutes. And the fact that she and the Goth girl were related by blood still hadn't fully sunk in to her befuddled brain. "What has this got to do with me?"
"Because we are family," Kanako bluntly stated, deciding to lay it all on the line. "Your parents are in fact, my real birth parents. And you are my younger twin sister."
"We...are twin...sisters?" Motoko stammered, her eyes instantly going huge with disbelief. "But, how? That can't be-!"
"That is why we share a certain resemblance," Kanako continued. "We are not identical twins, but fraternal twins. That is the reason why you are taller than me, and we do not look exactly alike."
"Our figures and physical build are similar, as are our facial features," Motoko hesitantly admitted, her brain finally beginning to get over its shock at what she had just heard and to start thinking rationally again. "But you say that you are my sister! How can you be so certain of this?"
"I have read my adoption papers from my parents' house," Kanako told her, staring directly into Motoko's eyes as she spoke. "There is no doubt at all that it is true. And your – our – Oneesan, Tsuruko-san, has also just confirmed that to you, as well."
"Then...I must accept the fact that you and I are true family. I have another sister! There are three of us!"
"Yes," Granny Hina spoke up again. "The three Aoyama Sisters are reunited once again."
The gob-smacked Keitaro quickly put another piece of the puzzle together, and looked toward his Grandmother. "Then, Granny, that must mean that the other girl you mentioned who can use the Hinata Blade must be Motoko?"
"Yes, that is also correct," she confirmed. "Motoko Aoyama-san also has the potential to do so without being harmed by the oni within."
"But what about Tsuruko Aoyama-san?" the young man pointed out to her, a confused look on his face. "She's Motoko's older sister, but can't use the Hinata Blade without being possessed. We already know that for a fact!"
"That is because I was not adopted by your family, and therefore I am not legally an Urashima," the Kyoto woman told them. "Our families are related, but the curse of the Hinata Blade says that I have to actually be an Urashima as well as an Aoyama, to safely use the cursed sword."
"But Motoko isn't an Urashima, either. How can she use the Hinata blade, when Tsuruko-san can't?"
"Because Kanako and Motoko are twins," Granny Hina explained. "They have a form of shared immunity, which gives Motoko the potential to wield the Hinata blade, but not the actual ability itself."
"So with practise, under the tutelage of Hinata Obā-sama or Kanako-san, Motoko-chan will also become fully immune to the detrimental effects of the cursed blade, just as the two aforementioned people are," Tsuruko clarified.
"And the more that Kanako-chan and Motoko-san share close proximity with each other, the faster Motoko-san will become immune to the blade because of their genetic link," Granny Hina finished.
As they heard the oldster's words, the other participants in the room couldn't help noticing that, for some strange reason, both Kanako and Motoko had begun to blush, Motoko a lot more than her minutes-older twin. And the reason for their sudden angst, unknown to most of the others at the meeting, was that Granny's words had caused both girls to unwittingly remember what had happened between the two of them last year. This was on the occasion when Kanako had disguised herself as Naru and gone to Motoko's room to try to force her to leave the Hinata Apartments for good.
We can't get in much closer proximity than having sex with each other, like we did back then, Kanako thought, ducking her head slightly in an attempt to hide her feelings from the others in the room. A red tinge had appeared on her pale cheeks, as she was now feeling a little embarrassed and uncomfortable at what she had done to the girl who had turned out to be her long-lost twin. And Kendo girl submitted to every way and every position that I did it with her, too. Considering the amount of times that I lay on top of Motoko's naked body and took her that afternoon, I wouldn't be surprised if she was totally immune to Granny's sword already...!"
And judging by the way Motoko's face is glowing like a neon sign, she remembers every last bit of what we did together, too.
I really should apologize to her for that. But, considering what we now know about each other, I don't know how she'd take it if I did. I don't want to screw up my new start with Kendo girl, since we are publicly sisters now...
I'd best talk to Kuro first, and get his advice on whether I should do it or not.
Keitaro, blissfully unaware of the discomfort both girls were now feeling - though he had been there at the time and knew of the incident in question - was still working things through in his head.
"I see? That explains it, then," he said. "But I have one last question to ask. If it is really true that Motoko and Kanako are sisters, then why was Kanako adopted into our family, and not Motoko? If they really are twins, then couldn't either of them been chosen?"
"Simple. Kanako is the elder of the two, by a few minutes, so she has seniority. That was the sole reason for our choice."
I see now. So it was really just the fact that she was born first that fated Kanako to be adopted by my parents. If Motoko had been the first of the two born, then she would now be my younger sister!
So that's the real reason why she was adopted into our family...! This whole situation with Kanako finally makes sense now.
Dammit all, Granny!
"Let me guess. Granny, you must have been the one who first received Kanako from the Aoyama family," Keitaro then declared out loud, as everything finally fell into place, an undercurrent of anger in his voice at the underhanded mechanisms of his family. "Then, when you brought Kanako back from your travels after a few years, she was adopted by my parents so she could grow up with me, discover all of my likes and dislikes, hopefully fall in love with me, and then marry me, right? That way, we would produce at least one heir who would also be able to control the Hinata Blade. And then our son or daughter would take over the leadership of both the Urashima and the Aoyama clans after, first you, Granny, and then everyone else in the line-of-succession, including Kanako and I, eventually retire from the position. If – and that's a big 'if' - I ever do. You telling me that I'm supposingly some sort of an immortal and all."
"Oh-ho-ho-ho! Very good, Keitaro," Granny boomed out, nodding and clapping her hands at her grandson's perceptiveness. "You are correct in what you surmise. I never thought that you would figure it all out quite that easily."
So my family duty is to marry Kanako, and if not her, then Motoko, whether I want to or not, the glowering young third-time-ronin silently realized, his thoughts racing at a-mile-a-minute. But is that what I really want to do with my life?
Hold on! What about-?
"Granny! What about Naru? And Mutsumi?" he angrily asked. "I thought that one of them was supposed to be my promise girl? How do they fit into the picture, if I'm actually supposed to be marrying either Kanako or Motoko?"
"Well, Mutsumi Otohime-chan decided of her own accord to come and live here. Do you remember that you two used to be best friends when you were younger, Keitaro?" Granny Hina reminded him, deftly evading answering the 'promise girl' part of his question with her reply.
"Yes, I do. Mutsumi is great, and I'm really glad that she's staying at the apartments with us. But what about Naru? Why is she here?"
"Naru Narusegawa-san is - was – a bit of a special case," Granny admitted. "You may not know this, Keitaro, but when she was a child, Naru used to be very sickly and weak. She and her mother used to stay here for her health, incidentally at the same time as Mutsumi and her mother were living here. As for her current illness, I do know what is wrong with her, Keitaro, and I also know that she only hits you because she mentally cannot stop herself from doing so. And you do recover very quickly from the injuries she gives you, don't you?"
"Yes! All except that last one!" he nearly yelled. "I could've died!"
At her grandson's bitter words, Granny actually looked repentant. "I am sorry, Keitaro. That was unforeseen. Naru was never supposed to be able to hit you that hard. We have just recently discovered that she is an unconscious ki user, you see? Normally you would be able to handle her ordinary and even ki-enhanced punches with scarcely even a bruise. But when she used that steel frying pan; her uncontrolled ki amplified the force of her blow by a factor of ten. Your fast healing was already being taxed from the multiple blows to the same area of your head that you had sustained in succession over the week preceding the incident, and that last strike completely overloaded it. You have my deepest apologies for that."
"So what am I – Naru's punching bag?! I'm your grandson, not a bulls-eye for her bad temper!"
"Like I just said, I am deeply sorry for all that you have been through. But Naru is gone, now. And you are far more than you know, Keitaro – far more."
"And just what is that supposed to mean, Granny? Oh? Are you referring to what you told me before, about marrying Kanako, or if not her, Motoko, and producing at least one heir to continue our family line?"
"Yes. In part. But there is more to you than that. And you will need to decide whether you love Kanako-chan enough to do so of your own free will."
"Of my own free will? So I actually have a choice about who I decide to eventually marry?"
"Of course you do, Keitaro. I am not going to force you to marry anyone that you don't want to. I am merely indicating to you our preference in this matter."
So what do I do now? The very-relieved Keitaro then thought, calming down a little at his grandmother's words of reassurance. It was a big load off his mind to know that he wasn't going to be forced into choosing a life-partner that he wasn't totally comfortable about marrying! When Sailor Saturn saved Kanako's life back at the cave in the mountains, I told Kanako that I loved her – and I do! But what type of love is it? Is it newly-found romantic love, or is it just a sudden increase of the ordinary sibling love that I normally feel for my sister, now that she's been saved from death?
So should I hook up with Kanako and eventually marry her, like my grandmother wants me to do? I've never really seriously considered doing that before. But that was before I found out that she's adopted, and that it would be perfectly legal for me to do it!
Aaargh! Granny's really put me on the spot here. Now I really don't know what to do!
Kanako's heart had begun to beat faster at her grandmother's previous revelation about who she was destined to be. So – she really had been jointly chosen by both the Aoyama and the Urashima clans to fully reunite their once-warring families. Maybe she had been right all along – it sure looked like she was fated to marry her Oniichan, after all!
He, he! So it doesn't really matter who Oniichan's promise girl is then, does it? Kanako smirked to herself. And just going to Tokyo U with whoever it was doesn't mean that he's going to marry her, either! So whether his promise girl was that psychotic Narusegawa bitch, or that big-titted airhead, Mutsumi, they're both going to be shit out of luck!
But then again, since it really was true that Motoko was her younger twin sister, Kanako now knew that the Kendo girl was also apparently capable of utilizing the Hina Blade to its full potential. And since they were twins, Kendo kook was obviously the back-up plan to win Oniichan's love, just in case she failed to do so. Motoko had obviously been unknowingly manipulated into coming to stay here at the Hinata Apartments for just that purpose.
And consequently, all of this meant that she still had one rival for Oniichan's affections that was on an almost-even footing with her..!
Dammit! I can't lose to you now, Motoko, not when Oniichan is so close to being mine! And, sister-or-not, I won't!
It's a shame that since the old annex was demolished and the new one built in its place, the 'Stay the night and fall in love' spell that had been cast on the old building seems to be broken, she then thought. If it was still working, I could have stayed the night there with Oniichan and he would have been mine forever that way.
But that would have been cheating. I want him to love me as a girl for who I am, not because of some old magic making him do so against his will.
And that's exactly what I'm going to do! Win his romantic love!
The astonished, wide-eyed Motoko Aoyama, too, had now realized what an unbelievable opportunity had just been dropped into her lap.
If – if what I have just heard really is true, then if Kanako fails to win Urashima's heart, then I really could be in with the best chance to do so, and marry him! Oh, Kami-sama, I pray that it will be so!
The Kendo girl then gritted her teeth and steeled her resolve. For this was her big chance!
I need to shake my depression and prove myself worthy of him! And fast. But how?
-:-:-:-:-:-
Granny Hina then made a surprising announcement, breaking into both girls' individual trains of thought.
"Kanako-chan, as an heir to both the Aoyama and Urashima houses, you will have to learn Shinmei-ryū, as well, to add to your already-extensive knowledge of Urashima-style jujitsu. Combining both fighting styles will enhance your effectiveness in combat ten-fold. So I have arranged for Tsuruko-san to start your Shinmei-ryū training on the morrow."
"Er? Yes, Grandma," Kanako replied. Then she frowned thoughtfully, and added, "But, the apartments and inn – who will manage them for me while I take time off to train?"
"The training will not be for all day, every day," Grandma Hina reassured her. "And I am sure that you have enough competent staff on hand now to manage while you are so engaged."
I wouldn't exactly call Kitsune 'competent', Kanako quickly thought. She spent all of her shift this morning half-asleep in a nurse's outfit! But the new girl and the others are coming along nicely. And Oniichan will be there sometimes to help, as well. So I guess that won't be too much of a problem?
Besides, I'm on pretty thin ice with Granny right now, what with me impersonating Auntie Haruka and Naru and all. So I'd best just do what she asks of me without complaint!
"I do," she declared. "The staff can manage without me for a bit."
"Very good." Granny Hina smiled. "I am one of the last living exponents of both styles. But we need more of our family to be the same," the matriarch then told them. She turned to face her other granddaughter.
"So, Haruka, you may join in the training, too, if you wish, and can find the time to do so."
"Yeah. Alright," Haruka said. "I'll start tomorrow, as well. Just let me know at what time, so I can arrange some cover on the counter at the Tea rooms."
I've enough experienced staff to take a little time off to learn a bit more about Tsuruko's Shinmei-ryū style. And I'll take this chance to learn her and Seta's 'air shundo' trick, too! While I'm training, Mutsumi knows enough now to be the barista for me, even if she did keep dozing off on the job today, for some strange reason.
It's also a big help that, last night, Kentaro paid off all of the money that he owed me. And, surprise-surprise, he also told me that he wants to keep working at the Tea rooms as a chef, not a cook, for a while longer, as well. At least until he's got his apartment rebuilt and he can move back there again.
Heh! Looks like Kentaro's gotten fond of the place. And that saves me the trouble of finding a replacement cook for him, so all's good on my front.
"Very good. Haruka-san, Kanako-san, your training shall commence on the field near the waterfall at 6:00 am sharp, tomorrow morning," Tsuruko announced. "It will finish at 7:00 am, so as to not interfere with the rest of your day's activities."
-:-:-:-:-:-
The next item on the meeting's agenda was wholly-unexpected by both Keitaro and Motoko. And just what it was came as a nasty shock to both surprised individuals, their minds already dazed by what they had just found out about themselves.
Amalla Su had the floor again, and once more she was directing her words to the hapless Keitaro.
"As mentioned by myself just before, any suitor to the Crown Princess of Molmol, Kaolla Su, has to be of both sound mind and body. You, Keitaro Urashima, have indicated that you wish to be such a suitor. But to prove yourself worthy, you must first pass two tests."
There are two tests? Keitaro silently repeated, his jaw dropping with surprise. What the heck?! Give me a break! What do I have to do now?
"The first test has already been mentioned. You must graduate Tokyo University with at least one internationally recognized degree. Do you, Keitaro Urashima, agree to do that?"
"Um, yes. Yes, I do," Keitaro cautiously replied.
"Good. The second test will be shorter, but no-less hard for you to achieve. Furthermore, this test can be accomplished either soon, or at a later date. It is your choice as to the timing of this event."
"OK. Fine," he warily agreed. "So, what exactly is this second test that I have to pass, anyway?"
"It is, The Test of Combat."
"What?!"
"To physically prove that you are worthy to marry into the Royal family of Molmol, you have to first fight a Champion appointed by a representative of the Royal family. In this case, it is I," Amalla informed him.
"Wait a minute!" Keitaro protested, physically feeling himself breaking out into yet another cold sweat. "So I actually have to physically fight some Martial Arts champion that you pick, in a duel? For how long?"
"Until one of you is defeated, or the match ends in a draw. If you lose, you are unworthy to marry into the Royal family. If you win, or the bout is declared a draw, provided that you also pass the first test, then you have earned the right to ask the Crown Princess Kaolla Su for her hand in marriage."
"I...I see? Um, I really have no choice but to do this, do I...?"
"Not if it is truly your wish to marry into the Royal family of Molmol."
After hearing her words, Keitaro swallowed the lump in his suddenly bone-dry throat, set his shoulders and steeled his nerve.
"OK," he managed to get out in a reasonably-confident tone of voice. "I'll do it."
"Fine!" Amalla gave him a big smile. "I see that your bravery is not in question, Keitaro Urashima-san. And now I shall have to think of a worthy opponent from my homeland for you to fight. Since we are in Japan, I doubt that anyone suitable is in country at present. So I will almost certainly have to summon one of our champion fighters from Molmol..."
Summon someone from Molmol? Keitaro thought, feeling a profound sense of relief wash over him as he heard Amalla's words. Good! That should give me a bit longer to train before whoever I have to fight manages to get here. Maybe even a week-or-two! And I get the feeling that I'm going to need all of the training time I can get if I hope to win this one!
"I know all of our best fighters by name, so the fact that none of them are in Japan at present, doesn't preclude me naming your opponent right now, though. So the Molmol champion you have to fight to prove your worthiness is…hmm? Let's see…"
Then a crafty look appeared in Amalla's bright blue eyes, and the faint hint of a smile appeared on her flawless face as she noticed just who was also in the room with them right now. It appeared that she wouldn't need to send for a champion fighter from her homeland, after all.
"Ah, yes," she then smirked. "He shall do splendidly."
Uh-oh? Keitaro gulped to himself. I don't like the look of that expression on Amalla's face at all. Just who in the heck has she got in mind to match me up against?
"Our Royal Champion is…Vincent S," Amalla proclaimed with a flourish, bringing all eyes to the huge westerner.
'Gulp!' Keitaro thought, breaking out into an even more intense cold sweat. All of the remaining color drained from his face as he stared at Aunt Haruka and Seta's giant friend. H-holy shit…! Anything big enough to hurt him is extinct! Why do things like this always happen to me?!
"Who, me?" Vincent S asked, uncrossing his muscle-knotted arms and straightening himself up to his full six-foot, six-inch height. "But I'm not a citizen of Molmol, Amalla. Remember?"
Thank god, thank god, thank god! Keitaro breathed out as he heard the blond giant declare his ineligibility, the young landlord firmly believing that he had just dodged another heart attack at best - and at worst, a lengthy stay in a full-body cast at Hinata Hospital.
"You've been employed by the Royal Family before," Amalla pressed the huge man, chuckling inwardly at the display of intense emotions flickering across the pale face of her younger sister's suitor as she did so. "And you have also been decorated by the King for services rendered. That award and the honorary citizenship that it confers upon you, gives you the right to represent us. Lastly, there's not a single member of the Royal Family who would object to my choice of you as our champion."
"Except me," Su spoke up, the worry in her voice evident to all. "I sure object, all right! But I don't get a say in this, 'cause the bride isn't allowed to interfere in who the challenger to her prospective suitor can or can't be…darn it!"
"Well, I can't argue with that, Amalla" the giant remarked. "It looks like I'm eligible to fight for you in matters of honor, after all." Then he looked down at the quavering Keitaro, and gave him a sympathetic grin. "Sorry, guy. No hard feelings."
"I…I'm sure," Keitaro managed to get out, wondering if he had enough time left before the duel to pack his stuff and get the hell out of Dodge without being spotted. The young landlord was uncomfortably aware that the huge westerner had already taken the full force of Tsuruko's katana strike - not once but twice - without even being forced backwards a single step. If not even Tsuruko could knock Vincent S off his extra-large feet, then what chance could he possibly have of doing any better…let alone actually winning the coming bout?
"If it's any consolation, I've got full medical insurance," Vincent S assured him, attempting to lighten the mood. "So don't you worry about hurting me, Keitaro-san, because I'm fully covered."
Yeah, by solid muscle! Keitaro felt like yelling out. I couldn't hurt you if I ran you over with Seta's indestructible van – and I doubt whether that'd be allowed, anyway! Waaaah! I'm a dead man!
"Ahaha-hahah…! Ye-yeah," the ronin replied in a forced chuckle. "I…I'll be sure not to b-beat you up too badly, Mister – um, Sir…"
"Just call me Vincent-san," his opponent offered in a kindly tone. "And afterwards, no matter which way it goes, what say we go and have ourselves a friendly beer at Haruka's establishment?"
"D-deal. But I think that I'll be needing something stronger than a beer at that time," Keitaro agreed, resisting the impulse to add, 'like a six-pack of morphine, and a defribulator!'
"Are you sure that you wanna do this, Keitaro?" Aunt Haruka prompted her nephew, a worried look in her eyes – and for a good reason. "This isn't going to be like one of my training sessions – this is the real deal."
"F-for myself, no. For Su and Motoko, yes," Keitaro managed to explain through his dry and constricted throat. "They're worth it."
At his honest words, the half-circle of his elders and friends looked back and forth amongst themselves, smiles appearing on more than one face at his courage and selflessness. Despite their worry, both Su and Motoko were ecstatic that their potential husband thought so highly of them to put himself at so much risk in his efforts to prove that he was a suitable candidate to ask for Su's hand in marriage – and by default, Motoko's as well. Now, if he could only survive to benefit from it…?
"Then it's agreed," Grandma Hina declared in a tone of finality. "My grandson, Keitaro, will fight the Molmol champion, Vincent-san, at ten o'clock sharp, Saturday morning, on the rear lawn of the apartments. Now we need to agree on the weapons to be used during the match."
"Very well," Amalla agreed, then turned back to face Keitaro. "Since you, Keitaro Urashima-san, are attempting to prove yourself worthy of marrying into the Royal family, it is your right to choose your weapon or weapons of preference. Suitors traditionally fight with hand weapons, such as swords or spears, although that is not a hard-and-fast rule. You may use any weapon at all – within reason."
Weapons? I'll have a dozen of Su's 'Kalukakuk's Revenge' cruise missiles in a rotating launcher, and her stealth suit, Keitaro felt like asking. I'm sure that Vincent S can't pulverize what he can't see – I hope?
"Um…bare hands?" he finally asked, not willing to take the chance of being hit by anything solid being wielded by his huge opponent – whom he thought in physical build, resembled nothing so much as a trench-coated Sasquatch with its face and body shaved, and a haircut. The visual of his broken body being sent soaring like a golf ball out over Hinata City and into the Pacific Ocean beyond was too frightening to contemplate. And he was equally sure that the muscle-packed westerner would manage to get far, far more distance with him that Naru ever had, even on the best day of her life!
At least in an unarmed match I've got a chance of survival; the very worried ronin consoled himself. With my agility, and Aunt Haruka's Jeet-Kune-Do training, I might be able to duck and dodge and wear him out – once again, I hope?!
"Ha, ha, ha! Fine by me," Vincent S laughed, cracking the knuckles of his huge hands. "They do say, Keitaro-san, that you are surprisingly resilient to hard physical impacts? Well, let's just let me put that to the test Saturday morning, shall we?"
'Gulp!'
"Alright then. It's settled," Amalla chuckled, tactfully ignoring the sweat once again flying from Keitaro's rather pale and sickly-looking face. "Now, on to our next item on the agenda. Motoko Aoyama-san."
"Huh?! Y-yes, Amalla-dono?"
"As mentioned in passing before by your sister, Tsuruko-san, it is also your desire to marry into the Royal Family of Molmol, is it not?"
Motoko quickly ducked her head and crimsoned like a beetroot again at her somewhat-unusual desire being openly outed right there in front of her elders and friends for the second time that night. But the Kendo girl gathered her faltering courage and forced herself to speak up; knowing that doing so right now was her best chance at having her wish to marry Kaolla actually being granted.
"Y-yes, that is – um – correct," Motoko confirmed, determined to say her piece despite her extreme embarrassment at having to answer this unexpected and very personal question from Su's older sister. "I love Su, and Urashima, and…well…I want to be with them, I do…"
"Fine. Since our laws allow for multiple marriage partners; your intent to propose is duly noted," Amalla grinned back, also taking note of Motoko's discomfort at having to actually publicly admit to her bisexuality in such an unequivocal manner. "As you are a noble daughter of the Head family of the Aoyama clan, your social rank and suitability is certainly not in question."
At hearing this, Motoko allowed herself a small smile – one which just as quickly faded again as she heard Amalla's next words.
"Of course, despite your social suitability, in order for your pending marriage proposal with regards to Princess Kaolla Su to be considered further by us in the Royal family, as mentioned before, you will also have to be first accepted into, and then graduate Toudai. Secondly, you too will also have to pass the Test of Combat on Saturday morning, as well. Only by successfully accomplishing these two compulsory tasks will you prove to our satisfaction that you are a worthy suitor for the Crown Princess."
"Wh-what?!"
"What I am saying is if it is truly your heart's desire to marry my sister, then you, too, even though you are a girl, will have to fight and defeat a champion of Molmol, just like Keitaro-san has to," Amalla further explained to the startled Kendo girl. "And, as your older sister, Tsuruko-san and I have already informed you, graduate Tokyo University with a valid, internationally-recognized academic degree after that – no matter how long doing so takes to accomplish. As to why - prospective rulers of Molmol can't be just anybody, you know! Only by proving that you are superlative in both the body and the mind will either of you then have any chance at all of gaining the permission of the Royal family to marry Crown Princess Kaolla."
"Oh…?! I – I understand, Amalla-dono. And…I accept the terms of the challenge!"
So, not only do I have to somehow get into Tokyo University and then graduate as well, before I will be classed as worthy of asking for Su's hand in marriage, I also have to fight and beat a skilled opponent to satisfy Su's family even before that? Kami-sama! What is this, some sort of a conspiracy against our love?!
"S-so, who will my opponent be?" Motoko warily asked, hoping like heck the answer wasn't Vincent S, as well. Having heard that the blond giant had taken the full-force of her sister Tsuruko's ki strike without even a scratch – twice! - had definitely dampened any budding enthusiasm for tangling with the towering enforcer.
"Hmmm? Who, indeed?" Amalla mused. Then her eyes lit up as she realized that there was another supremely-qualified candidate to represent Molmol right here in the room. What luck!
"It is our custom that each suitor must face a new representative of the Royal Family for each bout. Fortunately we have a second worthy champion at hand, who has also spent time on Molmol and aided us in our times of need. He has also been granted honorary citizenship, which makes him eligible to represent our country. Motoko Aoyama-san, your opponent shall be…Noriyasu Seta-san."
As she heard the name of her opponent, Motoko's spirits nose-dived into her slippers. Seta. She might have known Amalla would pick him. She had fought the Jeet-Kune-Do master twice before already – and come out on the losing end both times.
Even worse, the now-despondent Motoko knew this was a match that she just couldn't afford to lose. It was far too important. Her future happiness with Su and Keitaro depended upon it.
If Seta was to beat her this time, her already slim chances of actually making it into Tokyo U, then graduating, gaining the approval of Su's family and marrying both of her male and female lovers in a three-way wedding was over before it could even begin.
Of course, there was only one answer that she could give to the expectant assembly if she wished to retain her honor, and the respect of her two older sisters, seniors, lovers and friends.
"I accept your choice of opponent," the pale-faced Kendo girl declared with a formal bow, somehow succeeding in keeping the shakiness she was feeling out of her voice.
If I win - no, when I win – I'll regain Oneesan's respect, and my own self-respect, as well. I cannot fail! I won't fail!
"And your weapon of choice?" Amalla prompted Motoko.
"For weapons, I choose – um?"
As much as it pains me to admit this, I cannot beat Seta with bo, or katana. I've already lost to him with those. Bare hands are also out of the question – he is on a par with my Oneesan and Haruka-san. But what is there left…of course!
"I choose-!"
After hearing Motoko's unusual choice, the surprised crowd of attendees looked towards Seta, awaiting his reaction. The equally-surprised Noriyasu Seta scratched at his stubbled chin, and then laughed in agreement.
"Deal."
-:-:-:-:-:-
Now that the final details of the twin bouts scheduled for this coming Saturday morning had been decided upon, Granny Hina declared that the important family business for tonight's meeting was now finished.
"Alright, then. If there's nothing else that I need to know about right now, I'd best get back down to the Tea rooms," Haruka stated upon hearing Granny's words, looking askance towards the old lady. "I've still got a few things to finish up with there."
"Yes, that will be fine, Haruka-san. Everything that we needed to cover tonight has been just been concluded," Granny Hina told her. "You, Keitaro-kun, Kanako-chan and Motoko-san may now depart if you so wish. Chinen-senshi, Vincent S-san, Seta-san, Tsuruko-san, Amalla-san, Kaolla-san and I still have a couple of topics to discuss, but these matters are unrelated to the purpose of tonight's meeting. However, I will personally inform you if anything we talk about is something that you will need to know."
"Thanks Granny. Alright then, I'm off," Haruka told them, rising up from her seat. "Will you still be coming down to the Tea rooms later on, Tsuruko?"
"Yes, although I may be arriving there a little later than I had anticipated," the Kyoto woman told her friend. "I still wish to visit Motoko-chan, with regards to her…problems."
"That's fine," Haruka reassured her. "I'll wait up for you."
"Hold on!" Su suddenly called out, jumping up from her chair and brandishing a backpack that she had pulled out of thin air as she spoke. "Before you all go, I've got a real special present for everyone! See! Check these out, you guys!"
Reaching into the unfastened bag, she pulled out what at first seemed to be just an ordinary cell-phone, which she then proceeded to show to everyone present.
"But it's not ordinary," she assured them, upon being told by Keitaro, that was just what it appeared to be. "I've found a way to get a signal to a cell-phone both here in Hinata Hot Springs town and the outside world now, through whatever it is that's jamming the commercial networks! If you use these special ones that I've made, you'll all finally be able to talk normally with anyone, anywhere, without having to use a land-line to do it."
"Thank you, Kaolla-san," Granny Hina said over the excited murmur from the other attendees at the Molmol girl's announcement. "That is going to come in very handy for us. Well done!"
"And I've got plenty of spare phones for all of the other residents here, too!"
Beaming with pride, Su quickly handed out the new phones to everyone in the room. And once she had finished with doing that, the meeting - for Haruka, Keitaro, Kanako and Motoko, at least - was now over.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Author's Note:
Next Chapter - a surprise appearance! And you'll never guess in a million years just who it is. Or why they are there.
Also, a proposal!
Can you have too much fun? Tune in next chapter to see!
