Keitaro began his morning exercises again. He was able to install a
punching bag stationed on the roof, though he had to replace it often,
because he would knock it off. ('Really got to watch my strength!') He
started doing some more complicated counter moves and maneuvers. Then he
noticed something. Motoko was missing. He looked around, the samurai was no
where to be seen. He could sense her energy anywhere, so she wasn't
planning a surprise attack. Her energy. was no where to be felt for a mile.
He was getting concerned so he tied up his gi and jumped down to the
streets. He started running, with no regard for his own safety. He didn't
even notice he was barefoot until he was past the bridge! He looked around
to see Motoko at a blacksmith. It was an old style one and it was mostly a
tourist attraction, but also helped Motoko fix her katana on occasions.
"Motoko-Chan!" Keitaro yelled and came up to her quickly. "What are you doing here? I thought we had a training session, I got worried!" the kanrinin said.
Motoko was touched. Her heart almost skipped a beat. Keitaro might have feelings for her after all. "I just got you a present, for all those times I. blew you away, so to speak." She handed him an identical katana, except the sheath and handle was black, unlike the brown wooden one that Motoko had. Keitaro pulled it out, the metal sliding out of the black lacquer scabbard. It was beautiful, as far as katana's were concerned. Crafted in the old style way, in a forge, folding the metal until it was perfect.
"I know nothing of your arts. My ability with the katana pales in comparison with you." Keitaro said modestly.
"I will teach you, you have proven yourself time and time over again that you are worthy of the ways of the Shimnei Ryu Capital." She then motioned for the two to walk back to the Hinata Inn. On their way back, Keitaro was examining the katana, marveling at its beauty, while Motoko. was staring at something else that was beautiful. Her mind trailed off and dirty images of her and Keitaro popped in. She quickly shook her head, destroying the images.
"This is. not like me." Motoko thought. 'He is beyond my reach. but maybe. he'll see that I love him, more than Naru, and these training sessions we have is my best way to do it.' The samurai mused, and almost missed the door on the Hinata Inn and hit the side.
"Are you alright Motoko-Chan?" Keitaro asked innocently.
"H-hai." The samurai replied and told Keitaro to meet her on the ceiling in a minute. She quickly went into her room and washed her face. "What. is happening to me?" Every time she sees Keitaro. she thinks. differently. Unlike her actual thoughts, where she thinks of samurais and finally perfecting Shimnei Ryu, her mind was flooded with images of Keitaro. Panting, she splashed her face with water again, then quieted herself. "I love you. Keitaro. and I promise you, we'll be together." She promised herself and walked up like her usual self to the ceiling.
Keitaro was already there swinging the katana the way Seta-Chan taught him, thought the techniques were weak and the blows were weaker, Motoko saw true talent in him. Something that was never harnessed, and his clumsiness probably made this talent almost inconceivable. Motoko smiled and quietly unsheathed her katana. It screeched silently as it came out. In a split second, Motoko jumped up hurled a torrent of energy at her newfound love.
Keitaro reacted quickly as usual he brought up the black katana that Motoko gave him and tried to deflect the blow but his skill with the sword failed him and he was sent flying. Ever vigilant the kanrinin stood up, using the katana as support and tried again. For the next hour or so, Motoko tried her best to teach Keitaro how to focus his energy more, and how to use the katana as a medium between him and the opponent. With his already newfound expertise in the martial arts, it proved to be an easy task
The two grew closer and closer, Motoko gaining her goal of having her night alone with Keitaro, and Keitaro's feelings confusing the already confused man more.
Who will Keitaro choose in the end? Motoko or Naru?
I'll add more of a conflict between Motoko and Naru in later chapters.
"Motoko-Chan!" Keitaro yelled and came up to her quickly. "What are you doing here? I thought we had a training session, I got worried!" the kanrinin said.
Motoko was touched. Her heart almost skipped a beat. Keitaro might have feelings for her after all. "I just got you a present, for all those times I. blew you away, so to speak." She handed him an identical katana, except the sheath and handle was black, unlike the brown wooden one that Motoko had. Keitaro pulled it out, the metal sliding out of the black lacquer scabbard. It was beautiful, as far as katana's were concerned. Crafted in the old style way, in a forge, folding the metal until it was perfect.
"I know nothing of your arts. My ability with the katana pales in comparison with you." Keitaro said modestly.
"I will teach you, you have proven yourself time and time over again that you are worthy of the ways of the Shimnei Ryu Capital." She then motioned for the two to walk back to the Hinata Inn. On their way back, Keitaro was examining the katana, marveling at its beauty, while Motoko. was staring at something else that was beautiful. Her mind trailed off and dirty images of her and Keitaro popped in. She quickly shook her head, destroying the images.
"This is. not like me." Motoko thought. 'He is beyond my reach. but maybe. he'll see that I love him, more than Naru, and these training sessions we have is my best way to do it.' The samurai mused, and almost missed the door on the Hinata Inn and hit the side.
"Are you alright Motoko-Chan?" Keitaro asked innocently.
"H-hai." The samurai replied and told Keitaro to meet her on the ceiling in a minute. She quickly went into her room and washed her face. "What. is happening to me?" Every time she sees Keitaro. she thinks. differently. Unlike her actual thoughts, where she thinks of samurais and finally perfecting Shimnei Ryu, her mind was flooded with images of Keitaro. Panting, she splashed her face with water again, then quieted herself. "I love you. Keitaro. and I promise you, we'll be together." She promised herself and walked up like her usual self to the ceiling.
Keitaro was already there swinging the katana the way Seta-Chan taught him, thought the techniques were weak and the blows were weaker, Motoko saw true talent in him. Something that was never harnessed, and his clumsiness probably made this talent almost inconceivable. Motoko smiled and quietly unsheathed her katana. It screeched silently as it came out. In a split second, Motoko jumped up hurled a torrent of energy at her newfound love.
Keitaro reacted quickly as usual he brought up the black katana that Motoko gave him and tried to deflect the blow but his skill with the sword failed him and he was sent flying. Ever vigilant the kanrinin stood up, using the katana as support and tried again. For the next hour or so, Motoko tried her best to teach Keitaro how to focus his energy more, and how to use the katana as a medium between him and the opponent. With his already newfound expertise in the martial arts, it proved to be an easy task
The two grew closer and closer, Motoko gaining her goal of having her night alone with Keitaro, and Keitaro's feelings confusing the already confused man more.
Who will Keitaro choose in the end? Motoko or Naru?
I'll add more of a conflict between Motoko and Naru in later chapters.