A/N: Wow... FOUR NEW REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!! *dances* I'M SO HAPPY!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! Lady Alatariel, who is always so supportive and has reviewed every single chapter so far!! *hugs* I LOVE YOU!!! And my two newest reviewers, Angelic Demon 777 and Sadistic Shadow *bone-crushing hug* THANK YOU!!!!!! You have no idea how much reviewing means to me!!! And to answer your question Angelic Demon 777, I've only seen the Anime series actually, and at all the Motoko sites I've been to, they've only mentioned Tsuruko, her older sister... but this is something I'll have to investigate. I've never read the Manga version, so perhaps it is different. Sadistic Shadow, you're one of the first to mention that I was doing characterization right *breaths a sigh of relief* I was worried that I wasn't doing justice... thank you!! Anyway, this chapter will conclude the first arc, and then the second will follow! Sorry this is sooo late! I've been out of town visiting some family and I have a HUGE Biology test Monday, but I finally got this out! Thanks for the patience!
It had been a long time since she had wore these robes. They were a symbol of her past, of what she once was. Prideful, calculating, and blindly dedicated.
"What am I now?" She looked at herself closely in the mirror and found that she looked the same. Slightly taller, her hair a bit longer, her bust and hips a bit bigger... but other than normal changes, there was nothing. Nothing to distinguish all of the change she felt in her heart.
"You look like you're looking for something important." Tsuruko appeared behind Motoko with that familiar, all-knowing smile stuck on her face. She was dressed in the same white and red robes of the training hall, just like Motoko.
"I thought I would have changed a bit more... It's a bit juvenile to think that... but the changes I've gone through haven't really affected me physically at all. Looking at myself now... I'm really just the same person I was before."
"Upon first glance... you're right, there's absolutely nothing new... but there's a slight error in your conclusion." Motoko turned and looked behind her, and her sister tapped Motoko's lips playfully.
"Sister?"
"All along, it's been in your smile."
"I'm *pant* so tired of *wheeze* walking *pant*" Daisuke sighed as he collapsed against a tree.
"Oh... and I was sure it was this way..." Mutsumi sighed heavily as she scratched her forehead.
"This is absolutely ridiculous... you don't even know the way to your house?" Taichi grumbled, earning a disapproving look from Sora.
"Well... sometimes I tend to forget things like this... you see... I... I... I..." Mutsumi chanted, until her legs wobbled like jello and she collapsed onto the ground.
"Mutsumi-san!!" Sora exclaimed, rushing to her side as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
"W-What happened?!" Daisuke demanded.
"She must be overexerted I guess... Sora, do you have any water with you?" Taichi asked her.
"No, I don't... I drank it all on the train" Sora admitted.
"Daisuke?"
"None with me... w-wait a minute!" Daisuke pointed far ahead through the trees and saw a wooden fence standing up with a large house behind it. "I'll check there! We can probably get her inside where it's warm. Let's go!" Daisuke rushed ahead of Sora and Taichi as one lifted Mutusmi's legs and the other grabbed her arms. Daisuke rushed up to the bamboo fence and leapt up so that his fingers barely grabbed the top. As he struggled to pull himself up, he heard laughter... female laughter... and the splashing of water... as though it were... "Oh... oh dammit..." The bamboo fence cracked under his weight and before Daisuke knew it, he was submerged in the soothing hot water. Above the water, he could hear the screams and cries of girls, and their legs kicked and escaped from the water, as though a piranha had suddenly jumped into it.
"Wh-What was that?!" Naru exclaimed as she ran back up onto the dry pavement.
"I... I didn't see it!!" Shinobu exclaimed breathlessly.
"What's going on?! I heard screams!!" Keitaro exclaimed as he rushed outside. "Naru, are you alright?!"
"I-I'm fine..." she told him.
"Daisuke! What the hell did you-" Taichi stopped in midsentence and even dropped Mutsumi's arms as he finally laid eyes on the group of young women who clung to their rather short towels. Right on cue, Daisuke exploded from the water, gasping for air as he frantically searched for his most precious possession.
"MY GOGGLES?! WHERE ARE MY GOGGLES?!?!" he screamed. He was about to drop back under the surface, when he too caught sight of the women. A thin line of blood escaped out of his nose as his eyes widened in teenage wonder. "I've reached heaven... thank you God... oh thank you, thank you..."
"Amen..." Taichi muttered. WHAP! "Oww! Sora, I was just kidding!!"
"W-Who are you people?! And what are you doing here?!" Naru exclaimed.
"Look! They have Mutsumi-chan!" Keitaro exclaimed, pointing to the young women who now lay on the ground, since Taichi was trying to ease Sora's hands which where about to grasp his throat.
"Oh! Mutsumi-san!!" Shinobu exclaimed as they rushed to Mutsumi. Daisuke simply stood in the middle of lake, following them with his eyes, still in utter awe as his mouth remained agape and a new thin line of blood began to seep out of the other nostril.
"Does this happen to her often? She was showing us the way to her home... but then she just collapsed all of a sudden..." Sora explained.
"It's just Mutsumi's anemia" Naru explained as the rest of the Inn hoisted her inside. "Are you by chance here looking for Motoko?"
"Yes we are actually! Is she here?!" Sora demanded excitedly.
"Unfortunately, they just left for Kyoto-"
"By herself?" Taichi asked.
"No, with Yamato a-"
"S-She went alone with Yamato? Oh my gosh... they're running away from home!" Daisuke exclaimed in horror, suddenly coming to his senses.
"N-No, actually they-"
"Oh man... what if they run away to America where they can be high school dropouts and work at fast food restaurants!!"
"You've got it all wrong-"
"Or worse... what if they elope?!"
"THAT'S NOT IT!!" Everyone turned to a fuming Naru who glared angrily at Daisuke as she stomped up to the edge of the hot spring. "They went to go clear her name!! Goodness... you're as bad as Keitaro..."
"Oi, I resent that!" Keitaro exclaimed, pushing his glasses further up his face. "They went to Kyoto to try and convince the Council of Elders to grant Motoko's freedom."
"What?! We came all this way and she's not HERE?!" Sora demanded, her face falling.
"Well, I don't know... it wasn't that bad of a road trip" Taichi grinned.
"You said it..." Daisuke sighed dreamily as he sat down and relaxed in the hot springs, pulling on his recently found goggles.
"Excuse me... um..." Sora started out, ignoring Daisuke and Taichi.
"Oh! How rude, my name is Urashima Naru and this is my husband, Urashima Keitaro. We're in charge of the inn here" Naru explained kindly.
"Aww, that stinks... she's married..."
"Watch your mouth, Daisuke! Her husband looks like a weirdo" Taichi whispered while Keitaro sweat dropped heavily.
"Everyone hates me..." Keitaro grumbled.
"We'll be glad to pay full rent if you can put us up for the evening, we're terribly sorry about your fence as well, we'll gladly repair it tomorrow" Sora explained, bowing politely.
"Well, they certainly are polite... I don't see why we can't give you three rooms. But as long as you help repair the fence, rooms are free of charge" Keitaro told her with a grin.
"Are you sure?" Taichi asked, immensely surprised.
"Of course! Any friends of Motoko's are friends of ours!" Naru agreed, grasping Keitaro's hand firmly. "And let's see... three rooms? Or do you two want to share a room?"
"What?! But-"
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?! THAT'S LEGAL?!?!" WHAP! "Oww! Sora, I was just kidding again! You have to notice the cute tone in my voice when I'm kidding with you."
"Next time, I'll hit you so hard that cute little pitch is going to be permanent. Catch my drift?"
"*Gulp* Yes, 'mam..."
"Neh... Motoko...."
"Hm? What is it, Yamato?" Watching the countryside flash by as the train continued to rock on the railroad tracks, Yamato felt a steady heat rising to his cheeks.
"I didn't... what I mean is... I don't want things to be weird between us..."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well... I just hope you don't think I took advantage of you... because I kissed you when you were upset..." Motoko smiled kindly and she shook her head.
"I was... really nervous... but I'm glad it happened."
"But, I'm not a very affectionate person. I mean, don't women expect men to always kiss and-"
"You honestly think I'm the type of girl who'd lower myself to public displays of affection?!" she growled.
"I didn't think you were" Yamato smiled with a small chuckle. Motoko's face relaxed and she looked down the ground nervously.
"Sorry, I'm just a little tense... I'm very nervous about the trip... But, to ease your worrying, I would be more comfortable and happier if we eased into our relationship... I'm not skilled with how to speak and act around men at all, so it will most likely be an extreme adjustment for me..."
"And to date a woman who isn't begging me to sing for them or buy them '4-Day Anniversary' gifts will be an adjustment...."
"There are such things as 4-Day Anniversaries?"
"Only if you want free stuff for a cheap reason." Motoko chuckled at this response and she smiled at Yamato kindly. "Don't worry, I hope I won't be that clingy."
"I don't think you would be... you know there are a lot of guys who would really like to date you... but, thank you for choosing me" Yamato told her, placing his hand gently on hers.
"You make it sound like those reality shows... but it was an honor and a privilege... I wouldn't want to-TSURUKO!?!" Yamato spun around in his seat and followed Motoko's horrified gaze as her older sister wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes as she was turned around in the seats behind them.
"That was *sniffle* so beautiful!" she sighed dreamily. "The last time I heard such lovely words was the night Kenshin was conceived... After my husband had-"
"WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!"
****One and a half hours later****
"And that was what he told me... *sigh* isn't it beautiful?" Yamato was lunged over away from Motoko, paper bag in hand as he lurched up his lunch. Motoko was completely mortified and her face was completely blank and she remained unmoving. "Babies..."
"Attention passengers, we are now arriving into Kyoto. Please fasten all safety belts and please remember to throw your trash away before you exit. Have a safe trip, and we hope to see you again" the stewardess said over the intercom.
"In Kyoto already? Wow, that was a quick trip wasn't it?" Tsuruko asked them.
"Too long for me..."
"I'll never look at you in the same way again, sister..."
Steeping off of the train and onto the platform, Motoko took a look around at her surroundings and breathed in the clean, cool air of Kyoto. Instead of feeling invigorated and refreshed, a foreboding sense of dread crawled down her spine.
"You think I really have a chance to pull this off?" Motoko asked her sister, her voice dropping low, noting her serious disposition. Tsuruko sighed heavily and shrugged her shoulders.
"You know, I really don't have a clue. It's up to what you tell them Motoko. You just need to be yourself... you need to show them the person you want to be." Motoko looked up to the edge of the roof of the train station and she watched the rain drip steadily from the gutters.
"The person I want to be..."
Drip.
"The Kendo heir..."
Drip.
"Or the school girl..."
Drip.
"Who am I?"
Drip.
"Well, are you ready?" Yamato questioned from behind her.
Drip.
'Yamato...'
Abruptly, a content smile spread across her face and she turned towards her sister confidently. "Sister, I believe I'm in need of a change of clothes... and a few yen... I need to make a phone call..."
"You are willing to disown your own daughter, Aoyama?" an elderly man question, raising his eyebrow lazily as he looked at him with surprise. The two men on both sides of his whispered among themselves as Mr. Aoyama sat patiently in front of the council.
"Motoko has violated one of the most critical laws of our school and this cannot go unnoticed. She's been throwing herself at a boy who has no knowledge of our traditions and she directly lied to me about this! It's obvious that she is not fit to inherit our clan, nor does she have the honor to stay as one of its members." The apparent head of the council stroked his chin thoughtfully and his tired eyes looked upon the face of Mr. Aoyama, which had noticeably tightened in anger and bitterness.
"And who will you have to take her place? Your eldest daughter, Tsuruko, has already been disqualified."
"I am aware of this, and with your permission I ask that my wife's nephew, Sanosuke, be the one that I train."
"Sagara Sanosuke? His father was a master of this school as well, but he much preferred using his hands than a sword, Aoyama. You believe you can contain this brash young man?"
"Or his hair? He looks like a rooster!" The group of men chuckled softly among themselves, but the head elder lifted his hand and the rest silenced quickly.
"... Motoko has always been a most dedicated and honorable young woman in my opinion... It surprises me greatly that she has violated the teachings in such a manor... It just doesn't seem like her at all... but I do believe that we have no choice..." The elder reached for the old parchment paper in front of him and he smoothed it out with his old wrinkled hands as the others looked away disappointedly. His old hands then moved slowly towards the ink pen, resting in its tube of ink.
"NO! YOU CAN'T!" The door burst open and a woman's figure appeared in the doorway, heavily out of breath and in a familiar outfit. The elder squinted carefully and his eyes opened in shock by what he saw, as did Mr. Aoyama.
"M-Miyuki?!" Mr. Aoyama demanded as his wife stormed into the room.
"Miyuki Sagara Aoyama... it has been a long time since we have last seen each other, has it not? You know perfectly well that you are not permitted here, Aoyama-san."
"I am perfectly aware of the situation at hand and you're very wrong!! My daughter hasn't hurt anyone! She is still faithful to the sword!! I don't understand what is so wrong!" Mrs. Aoyama exclaimed.
"It surprises me that you made the same mistake with Motoko, Aoyama-san. You led her to make the same mistakes as Tsuruko... truly, I am disappointed."
"What are you doing here?" Mr. Aoyama asked firmly, grabbing Mrs. Aoyama's arm quickly.
"Isn't it obvious? Jun, come in here for a moment" Mrs. Aoyama directed. Timidly, Jun smoothed out her long skirt and bowed hastily in front of the council.
"I made the accusations against Motoko to Mr. Aoyama... But I think that in the long run, I was wrong. Motoko hasn't been throwing herself at Yamato at all! She honestly cares about him and he does too! They have a sincere relationship and neither one of them-"
"I've heard enough! You've brought quite a circus with you today, Aoyama" the elder scorned, narrowing his eyes at Mr. Aoyama.
"Certainly, elder... I was not aware their arrival here in Kyoto!"
"And you weren't aware of ours either, Father?" Mr. Aoyama spun around to see Motoko standing with her sword in hand, dressed in her familiar green school uniform followed by Yamato and Tsuruko.
"M-Motoko!" Mrs. Aoyama exclaimed in shock.
"What is going on?!" the elder demanded, standing up angrily as Motoko stepped up to their table.
"You are wrong to dismiss me from my duties on such petty reasoning. You have no right at all to limit me to what I can and cannot do" Motoko told them firmly.
"No right?! You burst in unannounced, unpermitted and wearing undisciplined clothing! You have absolutely no authority to reprimand us!"
"I do indeed, Council, because I am the only heir to the Shinmei School, and I am the one who will lead our tribe into a new generation."
"Oh? And who will allow this?" Just as these words were said a young man steeped inside the room, adjusting the glasses on his nose and smiling his same goofy smile.
"Am I late, Motoko?" he asked with a kind smile.
"Iie, Seta-san, you're right on time" Motoko informed him kindly.
"Seta Noriyasu? The architecture professor at Tokyo University?" Yamato asked raising an eyebrow.
"Motoko, how is this man going to help?" Tsuruko demanded.
"Seta... that name is so familiar..." Mrs. Aoyama wondered to herself as she studied him carefully.
"Noriyasu-san! It has been too long since we have last met with your clan formally!" the head elder exclaimed as he bowed deeply to Seta.
"Of course! Seta Noriyasu is the heir to his own clan! They've had an alliance with the Shinmei School for generations" Tsuruko recalled.
"That guy?" Yamato wondered aloud.
"You must be aware of why I am here, elders. Motoko Aoyama is a fine student of the Shinmei School, and we were most impressed by her diligence when the council met with her."
"The elders of your clan have met with Motoko?"
"Why do you think my Mother arrived here before I did?" Motoko asked them with a smile.
"If Motoko is to be dismissed from the Shinmei School because of something our clan encourages, then we will be forced to break the ties between our schools."
"You would break an alliance that has been formed over generations, Noriyasu-san?" the elder demanded.
"That is how much faith we have in Motoko and her clever young acquaintance, Yamato. The two are quite a match for each other, Council. I think they could bring so much to the Shinmei School, indeed."
"S-Seta-san, it's not like we're getting married" Motoko whispered with a blush.
"The Council and I are resolved on this issue. Renounce Motoko from her position as heir because of natural emotion, and we will dissolve our alliance." The Council muttered among themselves quietly as the Head Elder rested his head in his hands.
"To think that it would come down to this..." he muttered quietly.
"Council... I came here today to prove to you that I these emotions of mine can be useful to my training. With these feelings in my heart, I think I can learn more about myself and be a better person to my students and to those around me. I want you to see that I've decided not to be a woman who blindly follows the teachings, but that I can decide things on my own with my heart. If we continue to follow teachings that are thousands of years old... then we'll never learn anything new. Things will never change, and they will continue to stay the same as they are today. I want to carve a new era for this school. And more than anything... I want to be happy... and I want to make someone else happy too." As Motoko's words echoed through the training halls and the last drop of the cold freezing rain dropped into its murky puddle... they smiled.
"What a fine young woman you have raised, Aoyama."
"B-Beg your pardon?"
"What an example she is to the youth of her generation! What diligence! What courage in her character! I wouldn't allow some rooster-headed loud-mouth to take her place for a moment! Seta, please tell your clan that from now on you will be addressing Motoko Aoyama as the head of the Shinmei School."
"What a vacation... I'm still all pruney looking from sitting in those hot springs for so long" Daisuke complained as he sipped his cup of hot chocolate.
"I thought it was a great vacation, right Taichi?"
"Yeah... but why couldn't we have shared that room? I mean, think about how much MORE fun it would've been! OWW! I was just kidding!"
"Hey look, the sun's coming out!" Koushiro exclaimed pointing up towards the sky. From the cafe window back in Odaiba, they all looked outside as the sun finally broke through the thick clouds. The ice on the trees slowly began to deteriorate as the sun drove away all of the bitterness in Odaiba. Underneath the same sky on the roof of the Aoyama household, Motoko and Yamato watched the same events unfold.
"I never thought I'd see the sun break through... it looks like it'll be a nice spring. What do you think?"
"The best I've ever seen so far... Things should be interesting at school too. You think you can fight off my Kendo team admirers?"
"And what about all of the young ladies who are so taken with me? You think your techniques can outmatch their blind dedication?" Motoko chuckled and her eyes turned back up to the sky.
"I can do anything... and I think you can too. So, we're going to be alright."
He gripped the letter firmly in his hands and he moved to remove the glasses from his nose, his eyes tearing up quickly.
"I hate it when I cry... It's been so long..." Jyou Kido muttered as he futilely blew his nose. "Mimi.... I would've never guessed... I didn't think you still cared about him. What are you going to do, Mimi? What is it you're planning?" He gently released his grip on the letter as it drifted down to the carpeted floor of Jyou's Tokyo University dorm. In the dim light of the room, only a single sentenced stained with tears glowed in the quiet light.
'First love never dies...'
"There are no limits on our possibilities... As long as we stick together, there's no stopping us." Motoko reached out and grabbed his hand gently, her face sincerely glowing from the warm sun.
"These happy days are yours and mine."
:::: END OF ARC I ::::
A/N: *cries* I loved writing that! I agonized on my trip how the heck I was going to conclude the first arc, but I'm satisfied! And I even left a little teaser for everybody for the next arc ^_^ Aren't you happy?! Well, I really need to study for Biology! If I get an A, I will hopefully get Xenosaga!!!! ^____^ YES! I just hope it isn't depressing or scary... I have such a pristine heart ^_~ (On a side note, everybody go out and buy .hack//Infection. It is a really good game, and I don't think it gets enough credit. The music is terrible, but other than that, it's pretty darn good.) Anyway, the next arc should be up within the week. I just started lacrosse and I'm working hard on the Literary Magazine at my school, so it may be next week. Alright, about this chapter, yes I know Seta really isn't part of any sort of clan or anything… but it's a fun twist ^_^ It at least ties in with all of the skills he has, correct? The last few lines of the story were actually little headers on the Dub This! Website which is the best online comic I have ever read. Check it out!! Oh! And about the second arc, it will be Yamato-centered this time. Yamato is another one of my favorite anime characters and hopefully I will do him the justice he deserves! Also, extra special thanks goes out for the continued support of the following people:
Roxy
Ladyegolas128 (aka: LadyAlatariel)
=^_^=
Anime26Angel
Angelic Demon 777
Sadistic Shadow
Your support has been the fuel of my writing. Thank you all so very much.
~Midnight Miyuki