A/N: Yay! Hi everyone!! The first part in a two part series! What joy! A special thanks goes out to anime26angel who recently reviewed my story (Thank you, thank you, thank you!! And remember, don't use the Lord's name in vain ^_~) Everyone is gathering at the central point of Hinata Hot Springs for our dramatic conclusion to the first arc of the story (yes, there's going to be one more arc focusing on the second half of their junior year {Possibly more Yamato centered & this time introducing Mimi into the plot}, and depending on my schedule, a third one revolving around college... but this is rather unlikely)!! Woohoo! Anyway, in this chapter, we're going to pretend that Odaiba is about an hour/two hours away from Hinata, alright? Well, thank you for your continued support throughout my writing and I hope I can make this good! Standard disclaimers apply!!
EDIT: Oh yeah!! *hits head* how in the world could I forget Roxio (Fuu-chan ^_~) who was kind enough to review my story yet again. Thank you, Fuu-chan!!! And I'm at the 10 review mark!! YAY!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
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"Hinata Hot Springs. Last Stop. Hinata Hot Springs." Yamato grabbed his bags as he exited the train and he shivered slightly and pulled his coat around him.
"I thought it was supposed to be warmer here" Yamato grumbled as he exited the train station and walked out onto the street. "Mrs. Aoyama told me it was the Hinata Inn... but I've never even been down here before..." Yamato looked around him and he began to drift into his thoughts.
'Motoko had to leave everything behind because of her feelings... and she didn't even know how I felt. So if I accomplish nothing else by coming, I at least want to tell her how I feel.' Yamato was so caught up in his thoughts, that he didn't even notice three short old men approaching him.
"Are you looking for Hinata Inn?" one of the wrinkly, bald men asked him.
"Wow... yeah, I am actually. How did you know?" Yamato asked them curiously.
"She is ready."
"She is very unprepared."
"She hasn't awakened." Each old man repeated his cryptic sentence several times before Yamato began to inch away warily.
"Yeah... okay.... W-Well... thanks for your help!" Yamato chuckled nervously, trying to get away from the creepy old men. Just as he turned around to make a run for it, he was confronted by a small hot springs turtle floating in the air. "This just keeps getting weirder and weirder...."
"Mew!" the small turtle exclaimed, waving one of its arms in the air. "Mew, Mew!!" The turtle pointed to a large mansion looking home high on a hill overlooking the city, which Yamato had to squint to really see clearly.
"It certainly does look like an Inn... that would be a good place to start looking..." Yamato told himself. The turtle nodded wildly and she began to take off towards the large home... flying. "I can't believe a person like Motoko lived here..." Yamato ran off after the turtle and the three old men watched him carefully.
"He is needy."
"He has wealth."
"He is still sleeping."
"I love train rides!! This is going to be so cool!" Taichi exclaimed as he plopped down beside Sora.
"I've never been south to Hinata, before. The architecture should be very interesting" Koushiro pointed out as he opened his laptop to begin doing some of his homework.
"To see the place where Motoko-sempai spent many of her teenage years will be an honor!!" Iori exclaimed excitedly.
"I'm excited about just seeing this romantic adventure unfold... *sigh* It's so much like a soap opera or a fairytale..." Hikari sighed next to TK.
"I'll do anything to help my older brother out! Plus this will be an awesome vacation!" TK exclaimed.
"It'll be nice to see my cousin again, and Hinata must have an assortment of history and-" Ken was cut off by Miyako who had stars in her eyes.
"SHOPPING!! I've been looking for a new kimono!!!" Miyako exclaimed excitedly.
"Sexy older women and hot springs... can't get any better..." Daisuke chuckled as he relaxed in his seat. As the train began to pull away, Mrs. Aoyama sighed heavily as Jun stood beside her, still looking upset.
"It's all my fault this happened..." Jun sighed heavily, looking down at the floor of the train station with tears in her eyes.
"This was bound to happen anyway, Jun. This confrontation was unavoidable to begin with, so don't feel so bad, okay? Do you like ramen, Jun?"
"H-Hai, Mrs. Aoyama..."
"Then let's go get some. I know a nice little ramen stand where I'm meeting Mrs. Takenouchi for gossip. Want to come along?"
"... I'd... I'd like that..."
"How's Motoko doing?" Keitaro asked as Tsuruko came downstairs.
"Better, she's eating more and has a bit more color in her face. I made her go to the hot springs to freshen up though. She looked like she needed it."
"You'd better not go walking in on her like you have so many times, Keitaro" Naru told him with a glare.
"T-Those were unintentional!" Keitaro exclaimed nervously.
"Oh my... and I do recall the time that I made you bathe together when I assumed you were her lover..." Tsuruko pointed out.
"You made him what?!" Naru exclaimed.
"T-That wasn't my fault either!!"
"Or what about the time that-"
"I'm meant to be the world's punching bag... I just knew it..." Keitaro sighed.
"Visitor! We have a visitor!!" Kaolla exclaimed as she jumped up and down as she rushed down the stairs.
"Ooh! He's a hottie!" Kitsune exclaimed, close behind her.
"W-Wait for me! We should great him properly!" Shinobu exclaimed in the back of the line. Unfortunately, Haruka beat them to the door and she smiled as kindly as she could look as she opened it.
"I assume you're here to see Motoko?" Haruka mumbled through her cigarette.
"So this is the inn after all... thank God... I've come here to see Motoko as soon as I possibly can" Yamato told her as he stepped inside, Tama following close behind him.
"Tama!" Shinobu exclaimed as she leaned down and picked up the small turtle. "I was wondering where you had gone..." Naru, Keitaro and Tsuruko came into the foyer as well, and Tsuruko's eyes lit up immediately.
"Ah! So are you Motoko's lover?!" Tsuruko exclaimed with excitement.
"W-What?!" Yamato sputtered his face rapidly growing red.
"I assume you two have pressed lips as well?" Tsuruko asked, her eyes glittering with excitement.
"Well, actually-"
"And you want to see Motoko, correct? She's in the Hot Springs right now, I'll show the way!!"
"H-H-Hot Springs? T-That's inappropriate don't you think?"
"Well I'm glad he's not a pervert like some people I know" Naru growled, glancing over towards Keitaro.
"I'm not like that anymore!!" Keitaro exclaimed angrily. Meanwhile, in the hot springs, Motoko burst up from the surface of the water at the familiarity of the voice she heard.
'It couldn't be...'
"She's in here? Thank you! H-Hey wait a minute... I thought you were joking when you said-"
"Now, now, if you're her lover then you shouldn't be surprised to see a little bit of skin!"
"Now wait just a minute, do you take me for some kind of-" The doors suddenly opened and a pair of hands pushed a young man out of the small room and right into the steaming hot springs. Motoko cried out loudly and her face turned brilliantly vermilion.
"Now I'll just leave you two alone! Take your time!!" Tsuruko called out as she closed the doors. Motoko tightened the towel around her and she stood up, backing away from where the body had landed in the hot spring. Quickly a head emerged and gasped for air as he stood to his full height, running his hands through his thick blonde hair. He turned around and his cheeks pinked considerably when he saw her just standing there in a simple towel. His blue eyes didn't turn away shyly however, and he just chuckled softly.
"Well, well, fancy seeing you here." Tears welled up in her eyes as he smiled smugly, his eyes glistening happily.
"W-Why? Why did you come all this way? Why'd you come here to see me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Motoko remained silent as Yamato sighed heavily and his smug smile remained on his face. "You know, there's an old story my mom used to tell me... a story about two friends named Syaoran and Sakura who worked a tavern in an old city. One day, Syaoran received a mysterious letter, but it was so wet from the rain that most of the writing was illegible. The only part he could read was "Come back home." Travel was so difficult back then and Syaoran didn't know why he had to go back, but he got some time off, gathered his things, and set out on his journey home. Sometimes, he was attacked by vicious monsters, and his journey was so long and so very hard... but he made it, because his friend Sakura was by his side. And then, after much time on the road... He had to ask Sakura something: "Why? Why did you come with me?" And you know what she said?"
"...."
"Only… Only because I wanted to go with you." As soon as her tear hit the water, she grasped him with such intensity that her entire body began to tremble. Tears dripped one right after the other out of her eyes as his arms wrapped comfortably around her waist. She could even feel his heart pounding so loud and so fast against her own chest.
"Yamato... I-I never told you how I felt about you. That night at the amusement park... what I wanted to say-"
"I want you to stay with me." He loosened his grip and held her gently by her shoulders and he stared at her with such intensity... His words caught her off guard, but what he was about to say would change her forever. "Because I love you." Before she could gasp or cry out in surprise... he kissed her. He pulled her to him closely and he pressed his own lips against hers without hesitation or regret. The tears slowed to a grinding halt as Motoko's shocked eyes eased gently, and she closed them in acceptance.
"Woah... funky place..." Daisuke mumbled as he looked around his surroundings as they steeped out of the train station. "Where are the hot springs? The babes? Man... this place SUCKS!"
"Daisuke... just be quiet for a minute..." Sora whispered her eyes wandering off.
"What is it, Sora?" Taichi asked her curiously.
"I hear... bells..." she whispered quietly as she watched three old men cross the street, a strange fog following them.
"HEY EVERYBODY!!!" Their ear drums were suddenly broken by Miyako who hopped out of the station with Ken's arm locked with her own. "We're going to go shopping now, but we'll be on the lookout for anything okay?!"
"Well this is vacation after all..." Daisuke suggested.
"Daisuke!! Our priority is Motoko and Yamato!!" Sora exclaimed angrily.
"Oh yeah... Oba-chan and her boyfriend..."
"Ooh, she's going to kill you when I tell her what you said..."
"Okay, we should break into several groups, that way we cover the ground more effectively" Koushiro suggested. "Iori and I will check the south part of the town across the bridge."
"Alright, Hikari and I will check the western side" TK suggested.
"Ken and I will take the eastern shopping district!!" Miyako exclaimed happily.
"And Sora, Daisuke and I will take the northern part" Taichi told them.
"Alright! Sounds like a plan! Here we come, Motoko!!" As Daisuke turned around to leave, he nearly ran into a young lady who was standing directly behind him. She had dark chocolate brown hair and deep brown eyes that seemed to bore into Daisuke intently as she stared at him, slowly leaning closer...
"C-Can I help you?"
And closer...
"L-Lady?"
And even closer...
"I'm too young to be taken advantage of!!" Daisuke screamed suddenly. Just as the words had fallen out of his mouth, her hand reached up and pinched his cheek tightly and her eyes closed into a thin happy line (If you look at a picture of Mutsumi, you'll understand...).
"You're so cute little boy! I have a friend of mine that reminds me of you!" the woman exclaimed.
"Ah...." Daisuke sighed, drool now coming out of the side of his mouth that she pinched firmly.
"Can we... err... help you out with something, lady?" Taichi asked her, cautiously approaching her with Sora.
"No! I was just trying to get home and I happened to see this darling face here" she chuckled. "I'm Otohime Mutsumi; I'm a resident at the Hinata Hot Springs Inn. Are you visitors?" she asked finally letting go of Daisuke.
"The Inn... isn't that where Motoko said she lived?" Sora whispered to Daisuke.
"Hey, Otohime-san-"
"Aww! Aren't you cute calling me by such a formal name!! You can just call me Mutsumi!"
"A-Alright, Mutsumi... Do you know someone named Aoyama Motoko?"
"Motoko-chan? Hai! I know who you're talking about! You know... I thought I overhead Naru saying she was coming back home over the telephone... I just arrived back from Okinawa!"
"Y-You came back all the way from Okinawa?"
"Aww, I hear that concern in your voice! You are just so darling!!" Mutsumi suddenly grabbed Daisuke and hugged him tightly... right against her breasts.
"Oh my gosh..." Sora groaned, looking away sickeningly. Taichi mimicked Sora's expression until...
"You are so lucky..." he muttered, completely transfixed. "OWW! I was just kidding, Sora! Sora... put your fist down... please?" Daisuke had begun to develop a bloody nose as he tried to wrestle his way out of her grasp.
"I-I'm sorry Miss Mutsumi! But you're just too old for me!!"
"Ooh! You are just ssooo precious!!"
"... What's our next move?" Tsuruko wondered aloud as she, Yamato and Motoko sat around the table in Naru's room.
"I'm going to Kyoto" Motoko replied firmly.
"But they won't allow you there, will they? Didn't Tsuruko-san say that only the Shinmei Master and the elders can determine the heir?" Yamato asked her.
"But as of now I'm still the heir, therefore I must have some kind of rights, correct?" Motoko asked her sister.
"It might not be the best idea, Motoko. You could make matters worse by going unannounced" Tsuruko told her.
"But I... But I have to do something!"
"I just think it's in there hands now, Motoko... There's not a whole lot we can do" Tsuruko explained.
"... I disagree." The two women turned towards Yamato who continued to smile smugly as he set his tea cup on the table. "As of now, there's not a chance that Motoko will stay the heir to the Shinmei School. But how much worse can being banned from the training halls get? I think she should go to Kyoto. It seems like a logical move to me." Motoko's eyes shinned happily and Tsuruko's face turned into a hardened glare.
"And what will you be doing if she goes to Kyoto?" Tsuruko demanded, raising an eyebrow. While Motoko tensed slightly at her sister's expression, Yamato only continued to relax and smile.
"Isn't obvious? I'm coming too." Hesitantly, Tsuruko let out a relieved sigh and she nodded her head.
"That was the response I was hoping most for" Tsuruko replied as her face eased into a grin and she closed her eyes gently. Yamato glanced over to his right to see Motoko who had a healthy blush on her face, and she was smiling pleasantly his way.
"Arigatou, Yamato."
A/N: Very short I know, but I promise the next chapter will be longer ^_^ The little story Yamato told was actually from Final Fantasy IX (one of my fav. parts!) but I just inserted the names of one of my favorite anime couples (Syaoran and Sakura!!! ^_^) into it to make it sound more Japanese ^_~ Reviews are wonderful, and it would really help if you guys would let me know if I'm doing anything wrong! I'm writing this not only for myself, but for you out there too (yes YOU! Reading this now!!), so if there are any suggestions, tell me! I won't know other wise ^_^