Author's Note: Hello. I've just gotten back from a night of partying. I
have a bad hangover and four hours of sleep. Just so you know, I don't have
a definite script for the whole story. I just write down what my
imagination tells me to, which means, I don't know how this chapter is
going to come out. I hope you guys enjoy it anyways.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Love Hina. (11th time)
Tears fell from a pair of eyes watching Keitaro and Motoko from the shadows of Hinata Sou.
Keitaro broke from the spell that the young swordswoman cast upon him and pulled away from the kiss.
"Motoko-chan. . . I can't do this . . . This is not right." The young man sighed. Keitaro's shoulders fell limp and his head bowed down in apology.
"What's wrong Keitaro-kun?" Motoko asked. "I thought we were having a really good time?"
"We did. Please don't get me wrong. I had a great time with you tonight, Motoko-chan. But we don't have to do this. . . There are things that we can give in to and there are things we have to protect. . ." Keitaro explained.
"I don't understand Kei-kun. . ."
"I don't expect you to. At least not right now Motoko. . ."
"But Keitaro, I lo. . ."
"Please don't say it, Motoko-chan." Keitaro interrupted. "Not right now, please. I don't mean to be rude but this is all going too fast."
". . ." Motoko was speechless.
"Is it okay if we step into your room first? We might wake somebody up if we stay here outside your door." Keitaro asked.
Motoko nodded and stepped into her room with Keitaro following suit. They sat themselves on the floor, facing each other.
"We need to talk about what just happened." Keitaro slowly stretched out his hand and drew Motoko's bowed head up so that he could look her in the eye. Motoko looked up at Keitaro, tears silently streaming down her cheek.
"Motoko-chan. . . You are growing up to be a very beautiful and talented woman. I don't want you to think that I'm rejecting you. It's not like that. We live in a world where relationships are fragile. A world where it takes a lifetime to find true friends. A world where you can lose something so precious in a snap. I am very lucky to have someone like you for a friend, Motoko-chan. I realize that by talking to you about this right now, I might be giving up an opportunity to have a deeper relationship with you. I don't want us to rush into something like this because I don't want to burn the bridges that we've worked so hard to build. You might not see it right now, but if we go on like this, we might lose our friends just because we want to be together. I am not worth giving up your friends for. And it's too early for you to decide on that. Ilike you very much Motoko- chan, but I have already given my heart to someone else. You know that. Despite the fact that I find myself ironically more comfortable when I'm with you, I know that I love Naru and it is with her that I have a promise to keep. Please forgive me, Motoko-chan."
Motoko replied with what seemed to be a nod. Tears were still streaming down her face and when she felt she couldn't take much more, she flew into the arms of Keitaro and cried her heart out on his chest. Keitaro stroked her hair as the young swordswoman let go of all the stiffness and resistance she was always known for. Keitaro and Motoko stayed like this until her tears subsided. Keitaro broke free from the embrace and gazed into Motoko's eyes.
"I will always remember this night, Motoko-chan." He wiped her tears with his thumb and kissed her on the forehead. Keitaro then stood up and headed for the door.
"Urashima!!!" Motoko cried. "I. . . I. . . Just in case you and. . . Uhm. . . I want you to know that I'll be here just in case. . ."
"I know." Keitaro smiled. "Goodnight, Motoko-chan."
Motoko smiled at him just before he turned to leave. "Goodnight Kei-kun."
Keitaro proceeded to his room downstairs and prepared himself for bed. Motoko took to her futon and lay there for a while, her thoughts running circles inside her head, until sleep caught up with her.
Keitaro lay on his futon, forcing himself to get some rest. "I hope I wasn't too hard on Motoko-chan. I know I did the right thing but I can't help but feel that something inside of me just died. Motoko-chan is a great girl. I wish Narusegawa could be like her sometimes. . . " Keitaro yawned and dozed off to sleep.
Darkness slowly gave way to daylight as the sun started to appear from behind the mountains. Motoko was back to her usual routine, practicing her sword skills on the roof deck way before sunrise. Her sleep was short but restful and her aura was different. She looked happy and this made her focus on her training more. Shinobu was the next one to wake up. She headed straight to the kitchen where she prepared breakfast for the rest of the residents. Soon, Su would wake up to the smell of Shinobu's cooking and Kitsune would follow with a hangover that always seemed to bother her every morning.
"Breakfast is ready!!!" Shinobu called.
One by one, the residents of Hinata Sou took their place at the table, but two seats remained unclaimed. Naru was out for the weekend visiting her mother after her younger sister called up. Keitaro usually took the seat beside Naru's but he was, apparently, nowhere to be found.
"Shinobu, can you please check if Keitaro is still in his room?" Motoko politely asked.
"Hai. No problem, Motoko-chan." Shinobu eagerly replied. She then left the table and ran off to the resident manager's room.
Shinobu knocked on the door that guarded Hinata Sou's kanrinin. There was no reply. She knocked a second time and still, there was no reply. Shinobu slowly slid the door open and found Keitaro still fast asleep, all snuggled up and wrapped in his blanket. The young girl slowly crept towards to sleeping manager and looked at him with longing. She then looked around and quickly planted a kiss on Keitaro's cheek before she ran back to the kitchen with a big smile on her face. Shinobu stopped just outside the dining area and composed herself before entering. She had to make sure nobody noticed she was happy about something, especially Kitsune. She had a knack for squeezing stuff like these out of people. Shinobu then proceeded inside to find Kitsune already doing what she does best. Only this time, she was interrogating Motoko.
"So how was your date with Keitaro last night, Motoko-chan?" Kitsune blurted out.
Motoko turned red.
"Please do not look at me like something happened between me and Keitaro." Motoko replied.
"I didn't say anything like that, Motoko. You did." Kitsune answered back.
"By the way you're asking me, it seems you're trying to imply something, Kitsune-san." Motoko retorted.
"So. . .? I'm still waiting for a reply."
"Like I said nothing happened, we just went out to his favorite beef bowl place. . ."
"BEEF BOWL?" They replied in unison.
"Who'd think of taking a nice girl like you to a beef bowl place on a date?! But then again, that's Keitaro. . ." Kitsune interrupted.
"It don't mind. I had fun. That's what's important. Besides, it not like what you guys are all thinking. It was just a friendly date." Motoko explained.
"Really now? If I knew better, I'd say you're starting to fall for him too!" Kitsune insinuated.
Shinobu's eyes started to swell with tears upon hearing this.
"Please don't start something like that. . ." Motoko said. "Shinobu-chan, please don't . . ."
Shinobu stood from the table and ran away to the confines of her room.
"Now you've done it. Who's gonna be washing the dishes now?" Kitsune asked.
"I'll take care of the dishes, Kitsune-san. Please do not do that again." Motoko softly replied.
Kitsune just smiled.
An hour passed from the time Shinobu locked herself up in her room.
"Shinobu-chan, ya wanna play?" Su asked. She found her playmate seated on the floor hugging a stuffed animal.
"Maybe later Su. . ." She softly replied.
"Ya sure?"
"Yes. I just want to be alone first."
"Okay." Su then ran of to her room and started tinkering with her gadgets.
"I haven't heard from sempai since this morning." Shinobu thought. "I know. . ."
Shinobu tore a piece of paper from a notebook, grabbed a pen and ran off to the kitchen like she suddenly found a new source of strength. She began opening the cupboards and started writing stuff on the paper she brought along with her. She then started to prepare a short meal for one person and proceeded to Keitaro's room.
"Ohayo, Sempai!" Shinobu greeted, rousing Keitaro from his sleep.
"Oh, good morning to you too Shinobu-chan. What's this?"
"I made you breakfast." Shinobu smiled.
"Wow, thank you very much, Shinobu. That smells very good!"
"You must be pretty tired last night, sempai. You don't usually wake up this late. Well, except when you're sick."
"I guess. . . Motoko got carried away by the new arcade game I showed her last night." Keitaro explained.
"I see. . . We'll eat up. You must be very hungry already."
Keitaro devoured the meal Shinobu prepared for him while she watched.
"Sempai. . ."
"Yes, Shinobu?"
"Can I ask you a favor?"
"Uh-huh?" Keitaro replied with a mouthful of noodles.
"I know you're the one who usually does the grocery for the Inn. I've already made a list of the supplies we need for the kitchen. I . . . I was wondering if I could go to the grocery with you."
"Sure!" Keitaro replied. "Just let me finish breakfast and give me 15 minutes to get ready."
Shinobu smiled. "Thanks! I'll go get ready."
"Okay."
"Oh, and one more thing. . ." Shinobu added.
"Yes. . .?"
"Last night. . . I . . . I . . . I saw everything. . ."
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Love Hina. (11th time)
Tears fell from a pair of eyes watching Keitaro and Motoko from the shadows of Hinata Sou.
Keitaro broke from the spell that the young swordswoman cast upon him and pulled away from the kiss.
"Motoko-chan. . . I can't do this . . . This is not right." The young man sighed. Keitaro's shoulders fell limp and his head bowed down in apology.
"What's wrong Keitaro-kun?" Motoko asked. "I thought we were having a really good time?"
"We did. Please don't get me wrong. I had a great time with you tonight, Motoko-chan. But we don't have to do this. . . There are things that we can give in to and there are things we have to protect. . ." Keitaro explained.
"I don't understand Kei-kun. . ."
"I don't expect you to. At least not right now Motoko. . ."
"But Keitaro, I lo. . ."
"Please don't say it, Motoko-chan." Keitaro interrupted. "Not right now, please. I don't mean to be rude but this is all going too fast."
". . ." Motoko was speechless.
"Is it okay if we step into your room first? We might wake somebody up if we stay here outside your door." Keitaro asked.
Motoko nodded and stepped into her room with Keitaro following suit. They sat themselves on the floor, facing each other.
"We need to talk about what just happened." Keitaro slowly stretched out his hand and drew Motoko's bowed head up so that he could look her in the eye. Motoko looked up at Keitaro, tears silently streaming down her cheek.
"Motoko-chan. . . You are growing up to be a very beautiful and talented woman. I don't want you to think that I'm rejecting you. It's not like that. We live in a world where relationships are fragile. A world where it takes a lifetime to find true friends. A world where you can lose something so precious in a snap. I am very lucky to have someone like you for a friend, Motoko-chan. I realize that by talking to you about this right now, I might be giving up an opportunity to have a deeper relationship with you. I don't want us to rush into something like this because I don't want to burn the bridges that we've worked so hard to build. You might not see it right now, but if we go on like this, we might lose our friends just because we want to be together. I am not worth giving up your friends for. And it's too early for you to decide on that. Ilike you very much Motoko- chan, but I have already given my heart to someone else. You know that. Despite the fact that I find myself ironically more comfortable when I'm with you, I know that I love Naru and it is with her that I have a promise to keep. Please forgive me, Motoko-chan."
Motoko replied with what seemed to be a nod. Tears were still streaming down her face and when she felt she couldn't take much more, she flew into the arms of Keitaro and cried her heart out on his chest. Keitaro stroked her hair as the young swordswoman let go of all the stiffness and resistance she was always known for. Keitaro and Motoko stayed like this until her tears subsided. Keitaro broke free from the embrace and gazed into Motoko's eyes.
"I will always remember this night, Motoko-chan." He wiped her tears with his thumb and kissed her on the forehead. Keitaro then stood up and headed for the door.
"Urashima!!!" Motoko cried. "I. . . I. . . Just in case you and. . . Uhm. . . I want you to know that I'll be here just in case. . ."
"I know." Keitaro smiled. "Goodnight, Motoko-chan."
Motoko smiled at him just before he turned to leave. "Goodnight Kei-kun."
Keitaro proceeded to his room downstairs and prepared himself for bed. Motoko took to her futon and lay there for a while, her thoughts running circles inside her head, until sleep caught up with her.
Keitaro lay on his futon, forcing himself to get some rest. "I hope I wasn't too hard on Motoko-chan. I know I did the right thing but I can't help but feel that something inside of me just died. Motoko-chan is a great girl. I wish Narusegawa could be like her sometimes. . . " Keitaro yawned and dozed off to sleep.
Darkness slowly gave way to daylight as the sun started to appear from behind the mountains. Motoko was back to her usual routine, practicing her sword skills on the roof deck way before sunrise. Her sleep was short but restful and her aura was different. She looked happy and this made her focus on her training more. Shinobu was the next one to wake up. She headed straight to the kitchen where she prepared breakfast for the rest of the residents. Soon, Su would wake up to the smell of Shinobu's cooking and Kitsune would follow with a hangover that always seemed to bother her every morning.
"Breakfast is ready!!!" Shinobu called.
One by one, the residents of Hinata Sou took their place at the table, but two seats remained unclaimed. Naru was out for the weekend visiting her mother after her younger sister called up. Keitaro usually took the seat beside Naru's but he was, apparently, nowhere to be found.
"Shinobu, can you please check if Keitaro is still in his room?" Motoko politely asked.
"Hai. No problem, Motoko-chan." Shinobu eagerly replied. She then left the table and ran off to the resident manager's room.
Shinobu knocked on the door that guarded Hinata Sou's kanrinin. There was no reply. She knocked a second time and still, there was no reply. Shinobu slowly slid the door open and found Keitaro still fast asleep, all snuggled up and wrapped in his blanket. The young girl slowly crept towards to sleeping manager and looked at him with longing. She then looked around and quickly planted a kiss on Keitaro's cheek before she ran back to the kitchen with a big smile on her face. Shinobu stopped just outside the dining area and composed herself before entering. She had to make sure nobody noticed she was happy about something, especially Kitsune. She had a knack for squeezing stuff like these out of people. Shinobu then proceeded inside to find Kitsune already doing what she does best. Only this time, she was interrogating Motoko.
"So how was your date with Keitaro last night, Motoko-chan?" Kitsune blurted out.
Motoko turned red.
"Please do not look at me like something happened between me and Keitaro." Motoko replied.
"I didn't say anything like that, Motoko. You did." Kitsune answered back.
"By the way you're asking me, it seems you're trying to imply something, Kitsune-san." Motoko retorted.
"So. . .? I'm still waiting for a reply."
"Like I said nothing happened, we just went out to his favorite beef bowl place. . ."
"BEEF BOWL?" They replied in unison.
"Who'd think of taking a nice girl like you to a beef bowl place on a date?! But then again, that's Keitaro. . ." Kitsune interrupted.
"It don't mind. I had fun. That's what's important. Besides, it not like what you guys are all thinking. It was just a friendly date." Motoko explained.
"Really now? If I knew better, I'd say you're starting to fall for him too!" Kitsune insinuated.
Shinobu's eyes started to swell with tears upon hearing this.
"Please don't start something like that. . ." Motoko said. "Shinobu-chan, please don't . . ."
Shinobu stood from the table and ran away to the confines of her room.
"Now you've done it. Who's gonna be washing the dishes now?" Kitsune asked.
"I'll take care of the dishes, Kitsune-san. Please do not do that again." Motoko softly replied.
Kitsune just smiled.
An hour passed from the time Shinobu locked herself up in her room.
"Shinobu-chan, ya wanna play?" Su asked. She found her playmate seated on the floor hugging a stuffed animal.
"Maybe later Su. . ." She softly replied.
"Ya sure?"
"Yes. I just want to be alone first."
"Okay." Su then ran of to her room and started tinkering with her gadgets.
"I haven't heard from sempai since this morning." Shinobu thought. "I know. . ."
Shinobu tore a piece of paper from a notebook, grabbed a pen and ran off to the kitchen like she suddenly found a new source of strength. She began opening the cupboards and started writing stuff on the paper she brought along with her. She then started to prepare a short meal for one person and proceeded to Keitaro's room.
"Ohayo, Sempai!" Shinobu greeted, rousing Keitaro from his sleep.
"Oh, good morning to you too Shinobu-chan. What's this?"
"I made you breakfast." Shinobu smiled.
"Wow, thank you very much, Shinobu. That smells very good!"
"You must be pretty tired last night, sempai. You don't usually wake up this late. Well, except when you're sick."
"I guess. . . Motoko got carried away by the new arcade game I showed her last night." Keitaro explained.
"I see. . . We'll eat up. You must be very hungry already."
Keitaro devoured the meal Shinobu prepared for him while she watched.
"Sempai. . ."
"Yes, Shinobu?"
"Can I ask you a favor?"
"Uh-huh?" Keitaro replied with a mouthful of noodles.
"I know you're the one who usually does the grocery for the Inn. I've already made a list of the supplies we need for the kitchen. I . . . I was wondering if I could go to the grocery with you."
"Sure!" Keitaro replied. "Just let me finish breakfast and give me 15 minutes to get ready."
Shinobu smiled. "Thanks! I'll go get ready."
"Okay."
"Oh, and one more thing. . ." Shinobu added.
"Yes. . .?"
"Last night. . . I . . . I . . . I saw everything. . ."