Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina or any of the characters contained in here. Love Hina is owned by Ken Akamatsu. This FanFic is purely for the enjoyment of myself and for others to read. So please don't sue.                                       

                               Warrior or Woman??

Mutsumi: Oh dear. Motoko-chan is still after Gotenks-san. ( Footsteps slowly approach) Keitaro: Hey Mutsumi-san, What's going on? ( Looks around blank pages) And um….where exactly are we? Mut: Oh! Hello Kei-Kun. We are in the beginning of Gotenks-san's latest chapter of this fiction. However, Motoko-chan has been chasing him for some time now. (hears wailing in the background followed by Katana strikes.)  So I fear that this chapter may start later than expected. Kei: What exactly did he do?

Mut: I do not know Kei-Kun. I think Motoko-chan objected to him having you share a special Beef Bowl recipe sometime in this story.

Kei: What Beef Bowl recipe? (She whispers it in his ear) Um…Mutsumi-san, don't you mean Wild  'Mushroom'.

Mut: (Blinks twice) Mushroom?

Kei: Yea. Just took Naru to have some a while ago. It was good.

Mut: No Nooky?

Kei: (With Naru? I wish.) Afraid not.

Mut: Oh Dear. (Blushes) And I was going to have Gotenks-san have us share.

Kei: Um. S-Share?(Nose starts to drip) W-What do you mean Mutsumi-san?

Mut: Ara Kei-Kun. I was going to have Gotenks-san let You, Me and Motoko-chan share some Nooky together.

WHOMP!!

Mut: Oh My. Kei-Kun? Kei-Kun are you ok?( Fans a very unconscious Keitaro's face) Oh dear. (Rapid footsteps approach)

Gotenks01013:  Mutsumi-san PLEASE tell me you have Tama-chan with you! Uh…What's Keitaro doing on the ground?

( Another set of footsteps approach.)

Motoko: VILE MALE! Prepare to be---! Hmmm? What is Urashima doing on the ground Mutsumi-san?

Mut: Ara. He thinks that we were going to share some Wild Nooky?

Motoko: (Vein Throbbin) S-Share?

Gote: (Thinks—sorry Kei but I have a story to write) I think what Mutsumi means is that he was hoping the two of you would share some Wild Nooky with him.( Crap! Here it comes)

Mot: HENTAI!!!( Sends poor Keitaro flying through the empty pages with a special technique)

Gote: Rock Splitting Sword?

Mot: No! Evil Cutting Blade ….but good eye though.  I shall take my leave then. Gotenks-san!

Gote:( Gulps) Y-yes Motoko-chan.

Mot: I shall forget YOUR role in this display of lechery if you do one thing.

Gote: name it.

Mot: Proceed with the next Chapter of 'Friend' immediately following THIS chapter. I wish to revenge myself against that Foul-Demon.

Gote: Fair enough. I also can't wait to write the final chapter .

Mot: Why is that?

Gote: Um…Let's just say you and Keitaro get to spend some 'Quality time' Alone.

Mot:……As I said. Proceed.( Walks away)

Gote: Whew! I'm surprised I'm still alive.

Mut: Ara. Maybe Motoko-chan wants to share some nooky with Kei-Kun after all.

Gote: Mutsumi-san. ENOUGH with the nooky!

Mut: (looks on seductively) I thought there can NEVER be enough nooky? Hmmm?( leans suggestively towards me)

Gote: Um. Think I am going to get that Chapter started now.

( I am SO not going to flirt with a fictional character)

( En route to Kyoto)

It had been some time since both Keitaro and Motoko took their leave from the others and had been traveling by train towards Motoko's family Dojo. Tsuruko would be waiting to meet them there and begin their attempt to regain Motoko's lost honor---or lose and become husband and wife immediately after. It would still be a while before their arrival, so each decided to pass the time in their own way.

Keitaro was lucky enough to get a window seat in the train and was inspired by the beautiful day to finish some of his sketches that he had been meaning to complete. He had been at it since the train departed. Motoko was seated two seats from his left and took this extra time to meditate. Her eyes closed, she initially cleared her mind of all negative thoughts while formulating various ways to beat her sister. She found it a more difficult task than she initially imagined. Her only source of comfort was the almost silent sounds of Keitaro sketching. She knew that it was a favorite hobby of his but was never fortunate enough to see him actually sketch anything.

Without moving any other part of her body, she slowly opened her right eyelid and attempted to look in his direction(Hopefully catching a glimpse of what he was sketching). With the sunlight shining right on his sheet, it was difficult to make out what he was drawing. However, she DID manage to catch the look of concentration etched in his face as he drew, a look not dissimiliar from hers whenever she is training her skills.

Intriguing. I have never seen Urashima so focused on a single task as he is at this moment. Shinobu-chan says his skills in the Arts are quite good. I hate to admit this---but he reminds me of myself whenever I am training. She didn't know why, but that thought actually made her blush.   I hope he allows me to see his sketches before we arrive. Bah! There are probably some perverted sketches of each one of us. She closed her eyelid again at that thought.

"Motoko-chan?" asked Keitaro without stopping his sketching.

"Yes Urashima." She answered with eyes still closed. What is it you require?"

"Um. I was wondering. Do you think Mutsumi will like the notes that we wrote her this morning?" he asked nervously.

"Hmm. It is difficult to say without knowing what was said in your note." Keitaro agreed with that and began to brief her on what he wrote. She showed no emotion to what was said. She merely kept her eyes closed.

" Based on what you admitted, I believe that Mutsumi-san will find our messages---encouraging." She then told him what was written in hers( minus the part about how Keitaro would make her live something down.)

He sounded relieved at her answer "That's good I guess." He put his pencil down, moved his fingers around a bit, and laid back in his seat. He started rubbing his eyes as they were starting to feel heavy. 

Motoko sensed his actions and stated, "Urashima. There is some time yet before we arrive. Perhaps you should take advantage of this and take a short nap. I shall wake you when we arrive."

Keitaro yawned a little and started to rest his head.

"You may be right Motoko-chan. Some rest will do me some good before we get there." He tapped the cast still wrapped around his leg with his temporary cane. "Especially, seeing as this thing is gonna slow me down as it is." Then a thought started to form, " I am still going to fight by your side. You know that right?"

Motoko decided to take this time to open both her eyes so as to   look at her fighting partner. The same look of determination still etched on his face. It made her feel good that he intended to go through with this---to the end. She took note of his leg and added.

" All I ask is you give it your best. I will not hold it against you if your leg decides to fail during the battle. I cannot believe that my sister involved you in this. She saw your leg when she visited two days ago."

"Maybe she is trying to stack the odds in her favor." He offered. "Not that she needs to. Even without this thing on my leg, I'm not much of a fighter." He admitted without sounding regretful.

Something about the way he usually avoids combat had been nagging Motoko for some time now. She normally dismissed it as him being a weakling male. Yet, after getting to know him better, she determined that it wasn't quite as simple an explanation as that. She figured now may be as good a time as any to question him.

"Urashima."

"Yea?" he replied, giving her his full attention

"I have been meaning to ask you. Why do you not defend yourself?" she looked away, a little afraid of what he might say.

"I mean, surely you have felt like retaliating against myself and Naru-sempai."

She could hear him take a deep breath before he answered. Not meeting her eyes, he began:

"You know, there have been SO many times that I wanted to lash back out and give you back what you guys give me. I admit, I'm sure if I try hard enough, I can try and avoid grabbing someone's breast or having my face up someone's skirt." Motoko could tell that he wasn't trying to be perverted in his answers---if anything, he was extremely serious, more serious that he has been lately. She stayed silent and allowed him to continue.

"A lot of the times, it really is just me being clumsy. I've been like that since I was a kid. I can't help that. I know you think its some lame excuse to cop a feel, but it really isn't. I mean, think about it Motoko, with all these "Glimpses" I've had with all you girls----I've technically seen you all completely naked god knows how many times." He was surprised to see that she was genuinely listening to him and not attempting to take his head off with the mention of past indiscretions.

Noticing his scrutiny, Motoko barely whispered: "Continue please"

"Are you sure you want to hear this Motoko-chan?" He asked, actually worried about hurting her feelings. She nodded once in confirmation.

"Ok then. There are a lot of times when I get roped into these "compromising positions" by Kitsune, like, the first night I came to the dorm and she came into my room. You guys didn't even bother to hear my side when she said I tried to grope her. She grabbed my hands and put them on her chest! Then she acted like I had molested her and I got nailed against the wall for that."

Motoko continued to listen, feeling guilty all the while.

"Or how about the time I caught poor Shinobu from falling on the kitchen floor. YOU were the one that used a God's Cry technique and sent me flying." He saw her cringe at the memory but pressed on.   "I'm sorry Motoko, but you didn't even bother to let Shinobu explain that she almost tripped over a damn sake' bottle that Kitsune had just left on the floor for anyone to trip over. Did you even see where her head was going to land?" Keitaro shuddered at the memory, if he hadn't caught her when he did, her head would have hit the edge of the countertop. " She'd be in the hospital--or maybe worse."

Motoko remembered that day as well, Urashima may very well have saved the young girl's life, instead he got his rear-end handed to him for his efforts. She was ashamed at her actions that day and wondered how many other times that Urashima was a victim of circumstance---Especially where Kitsune is concerned. She knew that older woman liked "interesting" times, but how many of these times did she setup the landlord for her own personal amusement.

She dared a glance at Keitaro and saw that he was starting to tremble. He hands gripped the armrests of his seat as he attempted to calm himself. Kept silent for fear of doing more harm than good. Then she remembered what was said in his room last night after he found her wandering the streets:

All this time I have called you a pervert, and I've punished you without even trying to hear your side. I assumed that what was said by Naru –sempai was true. You take everything the rest throw at you, every insult, every shot, every torture---and yet YOU never…ever blame us one bit, never complain and I have called YOU weak? I am the weak one." Her eyes start to water. "I am…unworthy. Unworthy of being a Student of God's Cry and of being a normal woman.  Sniff! I am a failure

Wasn't he trying to calm her down then as well? He comforted her when she needed it---as her friend. He made her feel wanted, without taking advantage of the situation. All this time, this man did everything he could to make his charges comfortable, only to be "bullied"(she decided to use that word for that's what she felt like), or robbed by Kitsune. Noone took his side ever( or were afraid too). Yet he still stayed.

Seeing that he still felt uncomfortable with the present situation, she very slowly put her hand on his, hoping to calm him. Surprisingly, it had the desired effect as Keitaro's trembling started to fade. He still didn't look at her though as he continued:

"I'm sorry about that. I'll answer your question more directly. Why do I not fight back?" He paused only for a second. " Because I don't want to hurt anyone, that's why."

This broke Motoko's heart. Apparently, Keitaro could have defended himself whenever he wanted to, he just didn't want to cause anyone any harm. Even if it meant taking it on himself, he did it so noone else would be hurt. Motoko felt shame.

"U-Urashima?" he faced her at the mention of his name. "If that is so, then why do you stay? Surely, you could if you needed to get away ----from us." She started to softly weep as she asked this.

She's starting to feel guilty about what she did. He thought Damnit! Why did she have to ask me these things?

Motoko continued: "Noone would blame you if you wanted to leave us. On second thought, we probably would at that." It was getting harder for her to hold her tears in as she REALLY didn't want this man to exit her life, especially because of something she did ---or didn't do." She felt someone stroke her hair and found that Keitaro had moved to the seat next to hers. She made no move to remove his hand, on the contrary, she rather enjoyed what he was doing.

Once again Urashima comes to my aid despite all the pain I have caused him. I do not deserve his friendship. She slowly, pulled her head away from him so as to not hurt him by some reflex.

Keitaro didn't take any offense to this (Like he ever would) but still felt like he needed to help her somehow. Then he remembered his sketchbook, taking it from the holder in front of him he started to make a little show of flipping through the pages.

Saying to noone in particular he began: "You know. I've been drawing for as long as I could remember. It used to be because I wanted to copy down everything I saw on paper and see how close I got. Its also one of the few things I'm really good at." He noticed Motoko's face turn ever so slightly toward his direction as he said this.

 Relieved that he was getting some reaction, he continued: "As I got older, I started realizing that I was sketching for different reasons. Mainly, because it gives me a way to express my feelings through drawing, like you girls do with a diary. Wait! Here it is."

Her curiosity peaked, Motoko turned to look at Keitaro's sketchbook. She wiped her tears so as to not accidentally smear his pictures. He stopped at a picture of Shinobu—smiling. The picture was very flattering she noted.

"This was earlier in the day before I made it to the dorm that first time. I found her just sitting there crying. I thought that someone this pretty deserved to have a smile. So I drew her."  Even though she didn't feel very happy that day. He thought.

He turned to the next page. It had Naru, Kitsune, Su and Motoko looking particularly evil with horns and pitchforks chasing a smaller figure, which could only have been the landlord. Motoko winced upon seeing this picture.

Keitaro noticed her reaction and calmly turned to the next page.

It had a picture of Naru, or more precisely --Narus. One side of the page had Naru in her very unflattering solo studying attire: Ugly hair, Coke Bottle glasses, and heavy sweater while the other side was a much looser sketch showing off a much more flattering picture of his study mate. Motoko noted how much of a goddess he made her seem compared to the other Naru. Looking at him, she saw that Keitaro had a slight smile as if enjoying this trip down memory lane.

The next couple of pages had similar sketches of Naru( which was only natural) and Mutsumi( also expected.) There was facial sketch of Kitsune complete with fox ears—which made Motoko chuckle, as well as another sketch that showed the party girl in more casual attire looking very relaxed in whatever it was Keitaro had her doing.

There was a manga-esque sketch of Su piloting a Gamera-sized Mecha-Tama firing missiles at, of all creatures, Godzilla. Motoko chuckled a little at a superdeformed Su announcing the launching of said missiles at the greatest Monster ever created for Japanese film. A second picture had a little group shot of Su, Sara, and Shinobu looking just adorable as they seemed to be sleeping like babies at the foot of one of the great trees located on the hills near the dorm.

Motoko also took note that NONE of the sketches shown were in any way perverted or suggestive. Just flattering. Then as Keitaro turned the next page---she froze. It was a sketch of the swordswoman herself. It shocked her only because she never considered that Keitaro would even want to sketch her at all. There were 3 sketches in all. The first had her standing while her sword was hanging loosely in her right hand. She seemed to be looking upwards towards the sky while the wind seemed to play with her hair and loose fitting clothes. Her left arm was pointing upwards as if she found something. 

The second sketch looked more like an instruction manual as it had some smaller sketches of Motoko performing the individual steps needed to complete a Rock Splitting Sword technique. She was amazed with the way he properly broke down the correct steps to fulfill the strike. After all, he WOULD be the only other person with any intimate knowledge of that technique, wouldn't he?

However, if the first two sketches left her amazed, then the final sketch left her completely stunned!! It was a facial shot. That, in and of itself wasn't what floored her. It was the only picture in the entire album that had the most detail and the fact that he had bothered to COLOR it. Every aspect was perfect, her skin tone, her hair(which had a ridiculous amount of detail in it) her eyes, everything. It shocked her because she assumed this level of detail would have been used on Mutsumi-san or especially Naru. Yet there it was right in front of her.

Then she noticed the title: Tempered Love

Motoko looked at Keitaro in explanation, more in shock than anything else.

"It seemed to fit the moment." Was all he whispered.

He still had one more sketch to show her, it wasn't quite as dramatic as the last one, but it was no less heartwarming. It was a group shot of all the residents plus Haruka, Seta, Mutsumi and even Tama-chan the turtle standing in front of Hinata-Sou in all its glory.

Everyone seemed happy.

Keitaro found that Motoko had somehow regained her grip on his hand at some point during the showing. He found he rather liked how it felt at that particular moment. Then he turned to the younger girl so that he may give her his answer.

"These are all the pictures I have done since coming to the dorm all those months ago. They represent everything that I have felt since arriving. Do you understand what I mean Motoko?"

She nodded in understanding.

"I also consider the people that are in my album to be my family. Not just my Aunt Haruka either. I love you all that much." Motoko was wide-eyed, not expecting to hear something so profound.  "You asked, why I don't just up and leave right? Why I haven't decided to pack it in and call it quits?"

"Yes. I am curious as to why you put up with us." she replied softly.

"Motoko-chan, it's really very simple." Takes a breath. " I don't abandon my family."

He yawns as sleep starts to overtake him. He lays his head back on the seat as he repeats sleepily---"will never abandon my family."

If Keitaro had stayed awoke for a few more seconds, he would have seen the smile that formed on Motoko's lovely face as those words were said. Motoko allowed him to rest his head against her arm as he napped. With her free hand, she gently started to caress his cheek and kissed him lightly on the forehead. She looked at her friend with an affection that she didn't realize she had until just now.

She liked it.

She decided that even if they manage to beat Tsuruko this day, then at least she had this time with Keitaro all to herself. If not, then she had to get used to being referred to as an Urashima .

'Motoko Urashima' she mused. She actually liked the sound of that.

Author's notes: Sorry for the shorter than usual Author's notes. It's 3.33am here and I am just dead tired.(Yawn)

Epyon-Zero1: MOTOKO'S FIRST WISH: Another brand new Kei/Mot fic. Has Motoko's feelings for Kei grow WITHOUT any Tsuruko inteference( a refreshing change of pace even considering the story I am writing). Give it a look.

Sorry for the short must-read list as well(same reason) But look for Chapter 15 of "To Help a Friend"  Sometime this week. As always:

Gotenks,Mutsumi: Please Read and Review

Gotenks: G'nite Mutsumi. Time for me to go to bed.

Mutsumi follows

Gote: Um Mutsumi. I'm headed for bed.

Mut: (looks dreamily) Ara. Yes I know.

Gote: (Sweats) Um…Keitaro went THAT away!

Mut: Mmm-Hmm? (walks slowly toward me)

Gote: (Oh Crap!!) VASH!!!!!